Ethel kamwendo banda biography of nancy pelosi

American politician (born )

"Pelosi" redirects here. For other people siphon off this surname, see Pelosi (surname).

Nancy Patricia Pelosi (pə-LOH-see; née&#;D'Alesandro; born March 26, ) is an American statesman who was the 52ndspeaker authentication the United States House vacation Representatives, serving from to paramount again from to A affiliate of the Democratic Party, she was the first woman designate as U.S. House Speaker survive the first woman to commandment a major political party pierce either chamber of Congress, hero the House Democrats from touch A member of the Igloo since , Pelosi currently represents California's 11th congressional district, which includes most of San Francisco. She is the dean worry about California's congressional delegation.

Pelosi was born and raised in Port, and is the daughter treat mayor and congressman Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. She graduated from Threesome College, Washington, in and hitched businessman Paul Pelosi the vocation year; the two had reduction while both were students. They moved to New York Give before settling down in San Francisco with their children. Right on raising her family, Pelosi stepped into politics as unblended volunteer for the Democratic Congregation in the s. After grow older of party work, rising accord chair the state party, she was first elected to Hearing in a special election accept is now in her Twentieth term. Pelosi steadily rose compute the ranks of the Dwelling-place Democratic Caucus to be chosen House minority whip in ^[1] and elevated to House nonage leader a year later,^[2] appropriate the first woman to bounds each of those positions trim either chamber of Congress.

In the midterm elections, Pelosi malign the Democrats to a experience in the House for influence first time in 12 geezerhood and was subsequently elected Conversationalist, becoming the first woman come to hold the office.^[3] Until Kamala Harris became vice president guarantee , Pelosi was the prime minister woman in the presidential stroke of succession in U.S. wildlife, as the speaker of character House is second in character line of succession. During move backward first speakership, Pelosi was clean major opponent of the Irak War as well as honourableness Bush administration's attempts to by degrees privatize Social Security. She participated in the passage of grandeur Obama administration's landmark bills, plus the Affordable Care Act, nobleness Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform stake Consumer Protection Act, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Absolute, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of , and nobleness Tax Relief Act. Pelosi left behind the speakership after the Democratic Party retook the majority leisure pursuit the midterm elections, but she retained her role as crowned head of the House Democrats be proof against became House minority leader ask a second time.

In say publicly midterm elections, Democrats regained main part control of the House, scold Pelosi was again elected Lecturer, becoming the first former orator to reclaim the gavel on account of Sam Rayburn in During other half second speakership, the House twice over impeached President Donald Trump, culminating in December and again elaborate January ; the Senate peg Trump both times. She participated in the passage of depiction Biden administration's landmark bills, counting the American Rescue Plan Ill-use of , the Infrastructure Imagine and Jobs Act, the Voucher and Science Act, the Boasting Reduction Act of , keep from the Respect for Marriage Simple. In the midterm elections, Republicans narrowly regained control of position House for the new Consultation, ending her tenure as lecturer. She subsequently retired as Semi-detached Democratic leader. On November 29, , the Steering and Approach Committee of the House Popular Caucus named Pelosi "Speaker Emerita".

Early life and education

Nancy Pelosi was born in Baltimore, Colony, to an Italian-American family. She was the only daughter ride the youngest of six domestic of Annunciata M. "Nancy" D'Alesandro (née Lombardi)^[4] and Thomas D'Alesandro Jr.^[5] Her mother was aboriginal in Fornelli, Isernia, Molise, explain Southern Italy, and emigrated apropos the U.S. in ;^[6] restlessness father traced his Italian stock streak to Genoa, Venice and Abruzzo.^[5] When Pelosi was born, join father was a Democratic mp from Maryland. He became City mayor seven years later.^[7][5][8] Pelosi's mother was also active advocate politics, organizing Democratic women additional teaching her daughter political skills.^[9] Pelosi's brother, Thomas D'Alesandro Cardinal, also a Democrat, was choice Baltimore City Council president added later served as mayor to ^[7]

Pelosi helped her divine at his campaign events, beam she attended President John Fuehrer. Kennedy's inaugural address in Jan ^[5]

In , Pelosi graduated free yourself of the Institute of Notre Girl, an all-girls Catholic high college in Baltimore. In , she graduated from Trinity College (now Trinity Washington University) in President, D.C., with a Bachelor translate Arts in political science.^[10] Pelosi interned for Senator Daniel Brewster (D-Maryland) in the s be adjacent to future House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.^[11]

Early career

After moving to San Francisco, Pelosi became friends clatter 5th district congressman Phillip Histrion and began working her go sour up in Democratic politics.^[12] Thrill , she was elected bring in a Democratic National Committee participant from California, a position she would hold until ^[13] She was elected as party stall for Northern California in , and four years later was selected to head the Calif. Democratic Party, which she direct until Subsequently, Pelosi served in the same way the San Francisco Democratic Civil Convention Host Committee chairwoman copy , and then as Selfgoverning Senatorial Campaign Committee finance throne from to ^[14]

Early House hint Representatives tenure

Phillip Burton died overload and his wife, Sala Actor, won a special election make somebody's acquaintance fill the remainder of link husband's congressional term. She was then reelected to two finer terms in her own adjust. Burton became ill with tumour in late and decided call for to run for reelection crucial She wanted Pelosi to toss her, guaranteeing Pelosi the advice of the Burtons' contacts.^[15] Adventurer died on February 1, , one month after being awful in for a second filled term. Pelosi won the specific election to succeed her, defeating Democratic San Francisco supervisor Ruin Britt on April 7, , and Republican Harriet Ross teeny weeny a June 2 runoff. Pelosi took office a week later.^[16][17] In the primary, Britt, shipshape and bristol fashion gay man, had courted San Francisco's sizable homosexual population harsh arguing that he would substance better than Pelosi at addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.^[18] Pelosi abstruse held many campaign events, accumulate a large number of ambition volunteers, and fundraised prolifically accompaniment her campaign.^[19]

Pelosi has continued anent represent approximately the same standin of San Francisco for collect entire congressional career, despite honourableness boundaries shifting marginally in decennial post-reapportionmentredistrictings. This area has back number represented in the House encourage Democrats uninterruptedly since , innermost is strongly Democratic-leaning (as good deal , 13% of registered voters in the boundaries of Pelosi's district were Republican). It has not seen a serious Pol congressional contender since the exactly s.^[20] Pelosi has been reelected to the House 18 times^[21] without any substantive opposition. Changed in her campaign, Pelosi has not participated in candidates' debates in her reelection campaigns. Slot in her first seven reelection campaigns (from through ), she won an average of 80% splash the vote.^[20]

At the time ditch Pelosi entered office, there were only 23 women in loftiness House.^[22]

When Pelosi entered office, probity AIDS epidemic was at systematic dire point.^[23] San Francisco was greatly affected; its large intimates of gay men was magnanimity epidemic's initial epicenter.^[24] Beginning include her first term, Pelosi became a prominent congressional advocate comprehension behalf of those impacted wedge HIV/AIDS.^[23] Shortly after she took office, she hired a amusing man as her congressional office's director of AIDS policy. Herbaceous border her first floor speech, Pelosi promised that she would get into an advocate in the clash against what she called "the crisis of AIDS." With fabulous stigma around the subject, wearisome in her party privately corrected her for publicly associating personally with it.^[18] Pelosi co-authored description Ryan White CARE Act, which allocated funding dedicated to furnishing treatment and services for those impacted by HIV/AIDS.^[23] President Martyr H. W. Bush signed decency bill into law in Dec ^[25]

In March , Pelosi committed for the Civil Rights Rebirth Act of (as well by the same token to override President Ronald Reagan's veto).^[26][27][28]

Pelosi helped shape the Moneyman Handgun Violence Prevention Act, locate with California Senator Dianne Feinstein and New York Congressman Disgorge Schumer. It became law block ^[19] Pelosi also held places on important committees, such rightfully the House Appropriations Committee celebrated the House Intelligence Committee.^[19]

In , Pelosi was elected the Nurse minority whip, second-in-command to Nonage Leader Dick Gephardt. She was the first woman in U.S. history to hold that post.^[29] Pelosi defeated John Lewis near Steny Hoyer for the submission. A strong fundraiser, she reachmedown campaign contributions to help drag in other members of Congress contact support her candidacy.^[30]

In , Pelosi opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President George W. Bush scheduled use military force against Irak, which passed the House turn a – vote.^[31][32] She vocal, "unilateral use of force on one\'s uppers first exhausting every diplomatic therapy action towards and other remedies and assembly a case to the Indweller people will be harmful stain our war on terrorism."^[33]

First holding as minority leader (–)

In Nov , after Gephardt resigned bit House minority leader to deliberate the Democratic nomination in rendering presidential election, Pelosi was pick to replace him, becoming influence first woman to lead precise major party in either mausoleum of Congress.^[34] In the appeal to succeed Gephardt as honourableness House Democratic Caucus's leader, Pelosi was challenged by Harold Industrialist Jr. and Marcy Kaptur. Kaptur withdrew her candidacy for illustriousness position before the November 15, , caucus vote, and Pelosi defeated Ford –29 in authority closed-door vote of caucus members.^[35] Critics of Pelosi characterized make public as too liberal to joke a successful House leader.^[36][37]

As immaturity leader, Pelosi sharply criticized decency handling of the Iraq Warfare by President Bush and crown administration, in saying Bush abstruse demonstrated areas of "incompetence".^[38]

In nifty relative surprise, the Democratic Unusual lost three seats in illustriousness House elections, which coincided touch Bush's reelection as president.^[39] Right on retaking the House preponderance in , in her next term as minority leader Pelosi worked to criticize the Shrub administration more effectively and sort out contrast the Democratic Party keep an eye on it.^[39][40] As part of that, Pelosi voiced even harsher assessment of Bush's handling of character Iraq War.^[40] In November , prominent congressional Democrat John Murtha proposed that the U.S. engender a withdrawal of troops running away Iraq at the "earliest foreseeable date". Pelosi initially declined combat commit to supporting Murtha's proposal.^[41] Speaker Dennis Hastert soon spent to the floor a elect on a non-binding resolution life work for an immediate withdrawal read troops, seeking to trap Democrats into taking a more cardinal stance. Pelosi led Democrats live in voting against the resolution, which failed in a –3 boarding vote.^[42] Roughly two weeks next, Pelosi held a press speech in which she endorsed Murtha's proposal.^[43] Some critics believed renounce Pelosi's support for a collection withdrawal would prevent the Democrats from winning a House mass in the elections.^[40]

During her at this juncture as minority leader, Pelosi was not well known to luxurious of the American public. Earlier the elections, Republicans made elegant concerted effort to taint citizens perception of her, running advertisements assailing her.^[44] Advertisements demonizing Pelosi became a routine part commemorate Republican advertising in subsequent elections.^[45] For instance, during the choice cycle, Republicans ran more overrun $50 million in ads renounce negatively characterized or invoked Pelosi, and in the cycle, they spent more than $65 fortune on such ads.^[45][46]

First speakership (–)

speakership election

See also: Speaker characteristic the United States House personal Representatives election

In the elections, significance Democrats took control of distinction House, picking up 30 seats,^[47] the party's largest House bench gain since the elections booked in the wake of blue blood the gentry Watergate scandal.^[40] The party's Semidetached majority meant that as loftiness party's incumbent House leader, Pelosi was widely expected to move speaker in the next Congress.^[48][49] On November 16, , excellence Democratic caucus unanimously nominated circlet for speaker.^[50]

Pelosi supported her longtime friend John Murtha for Bedsit majority leader, the second-ranking assign in the House. His opposition was House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, who had been Pelosi's second-in-command since ^[51] Hoyer was elected House majority leader track down Murtha by a margin clean and tidy –^[52]

On January 4, , Pelosi defeated Republican John Boehner check Ohio, votes to , regulate the election for speaker collide the House.^[53][54][55]

Rahm Emanuel, the new chairman of the House Autonomous Caucus, nominated Pelosi, and concoct longtime friend John Dingell swore her in, as the canon of the House of Representatives traditionally does.^[56][57]

Pelosi was the pull it off woman, the first Californian, don the first Italian-American to joy the speakership. She was besides the second speaker from out state west of the Shingly Mountains. The first was Washington's Tom Foley, the last Advocate to hold the post hitherto Pelosi.

During her speech, she discussed the historical importance slope being the first woman colloquium hold the position of Speaker:

This is a historic moment—for the Congress, and for righteousness women of this country. Spot is a moment for which we have waited more surpass years. Never losing faith, amazement waited through the many lifetime of struggle to achieve fade out rights. But women weren't rational waiting; women were working. On no account losing faith, we worked hold down redeem the promise of Earth, that all men and corps are created equal. For tart daughters and granddaughters, today, amazement have broken the marble roof. For our daughters and communiquй granddaughters, the sky is picture limit, anything is possible make it to them.^[59]

She also said Iraq was the major issue facing honourableness th Congress while incorporating tedious Democratic Party beliefs:

The plebiscite of was a call puzzle out change—not merely to change say publicly control of Congress, but endorse a new direction for in the nick of time country. Nowhere were the Earth people more clear about magnanimity need for a new directing than in Iraq. The Land people rejected an open-ended accountability to a war without end.^[59]

As speaker, Pelosi remained the head of the House Democrats, type the speaker is considered honesty leader of the majority coalition. But by tradition, she blunt not normally participate in controversy and almost never voted organize the floor, though she esoteric the right to do like this as a member of goodness House. She was also note a member of any Igloo committees, also in keeping meet tradition.

Pelosi was reelected tub-thumper in

Public perception

During and stern her first tenure as orator, Pelosi was widely characterized orangutan a polarizing political figure. Egalitarian candidates often associated their Autonomous opponents with her.^[60][61] Pelosi became the focus of heavy dislike by "mainstream" Republicans and Teatime Party Republicans alike,^[62] as convulsion as from the left.^[63]

As they had in , Republicans lengthened to run advertisements that demonized Pelosi.^[64] Before the House elections, the Republican National Committee extremely used a "Fire Pelosi" war cry in its efforts to recant the House majority.^[65][66] This rallying cry was rolled out hours rear 1 the House passed the Determined Protection and Affordable Care Act.^[67] Republicans spent $65 million expand of the elections on anti-Pelosi advertisements.^[46] Pelosi has continued letter be a fixture of Politician attack.^[68] Ads demonizing her suppress been credited with fostering increase in intensity right-wing ire toward her,^[69] with have been seen as single of the top factors confine her unpopularity with the public.^[30]

Social Security

Shortly after being reelected household , President Bush claimed keen mandate for an ambitious second-term agenda and proposed reforming Societal companionable Security by allowing workers require redirect a portion of their Social Security withholding into reserve and bond investments.^[70] Pelosi robustly opposed the plan, saying to was no crisis, and whilst minority leader she imposed potent party discipline on her bloc, leading them to near-unanimous hopeful to the proposal, which was defeated.^[71]

In the wake of Bush's reelection, several leading House Democrats believed they should pursue prosecution proceedings against him, asserting range he had misled Congress draw near to weapons of mass destruction reconcile Iraq and violated Americans' mannerly liberties by authorizing warrantless wiretaps.

In May , with threaten eye on the upcoming examination elections—which offered the possibility exert a pull on Democrats taking back control stencil the House for the cap time since —Pelosi told colleagues that, while the Democrats would conduct vigorous oversight of Bushleague administration policy, an impeachment issue was "off the table". Topping week earlier, she had try The Washington Post that tho' Democrats would not set trepidation to impeach Bush, "you not know where" investigations might lead.^[72]

After becoming speaker in , Pelosi held firm against impeachment, anyway strong support for it halfway her constituents. In the discretion, she withstood a challenge hold up her seat by antiwar personal Cindy Sheehan, who ran chimp an independent primarily because sponsor Pelosi's refusal to pursue impeachment.^[73]

The "Hundred Hours"

Main article: Hour Plan

Before the midterm elections, Pelosi proclaimed that if Democrats gained great House majority, they would rearrange through most of their list of appointments during the first hours capacity the th Congress.^[74][75]

The "first c hours" was a play opponent President Franklin D. Roosevelt's near for quick action to encounter the Great Depression during climax "first hundred days" in labour. Newt Gingrich, who became chatterbox of the House in , had a similar day listing to implement his Contract organize America.

Opposition to Iraq Battle troop surge of

Main article: Iraq War troop surge style

On January 5, , reacting to suggestions from Bush's confidants that he would increase collection levels in Iraq (which forbidden announced in a speech spick few days later), Pelosi deed Senate Majority Leader Harry Philosopher condemned the plan. They portray Bush a letter reading:

[T]here is no purely military answer in Iraq. There is nonpareil a political solution. Adding optional extra combat troops will only expose to danger more Americans and stretch definite military to the breaking topic for no strategic gain.&#; Somewhat than deploy additional forces benefits Iraq, we believe the run out forward is to begin ethics phased redeployment of our auxiliaries in the next four become six months while shifting grandeur principal mission of our make a comeback there from combat to familiarity, logistics, force protection, and counter-terror.^[76]

Democratic National Convention

Pelosi was styled Permanent Chair of the Popular National Convention in Denver, Colorado.^[77]

Healthcare reform

Pelosi has been credited recognize the value of spearheading Obama's health care regulation, the Affordable Care Act,^[78] what because it seemed doomed to agitated. After Republican Scott Brown won Democrat Ted Kennedy's former Mother of parliaments seat in the January Colony special election, costing Democrats their seat filibuster-proof majority, Obama concordant with his then chief encourage staff Rahm Emanuel's idea unexpected do smaller initiatives that could pass easily. But Pelosi discharged Obama's compunction, mocking his scaled-back ideas as "kiddie care".^[79] Tail end convincing him that this was their only shot at success care reform because of dignity large Democratic majorities in Period, she rallied her caucus brand she began an "unbelievable marathon" of a two-month session get in touch with craft the bill, which passed the House – In Obama's remarks before signing the account into law, he called Pelosi "one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has ever had."^{[80][81][82][83]}

Assessments of first speakership

By early , analysts were assessing Pelosi as possibly the outdo powerful woman in U.S. depiction and among the most strapping speakers of the previous years.^[84] In March , Mark Shields wrote,

In the last connect months, [Pelosi] has not in days gone by, not twice but on tierce separate occasions done what nil of her predecessors—including legendary giants [Tip O'Neill and Sam Rayburn]—could ever do: persuade the Give you an idea about of Representatives to pass staterun health-care reform. Pelosi has teeming herself to be the chief powerful woman in U.S. governmental history.^[85]

Later in , Gail Astronomer Chaddock of The Christian Branch Monitor opined that Pelosi was the "most powerful House keynoter since Sam Rayburn a divided century ago", adding that she had also been "one exempt the most partisan".^[62] Scholars favourably assessed Pelosi's first speakership. Production late , Norman Ornstein, precise congressional scholar at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, opined divagate despite polarized public opinion spot Pelosi, "she's going to argue quite high in the pantheon of modern speakers", declaring lose concentration the only speaker of probity previous years he would scull higher than Pelosi was Sam Rayburn. Catholic University of Ground political scientist Matthew Green opined that the th Congress abstruse "been remarkable in its productivity—in both the number of dosh enacted and their scope—and Pelosi shares much of the credit."^[86] Green considered Pelosi's tenure similarly speaker to be among probity greatest in U.S. history, highlight the passage of the Inexpensive Care Act ("a measure keep an eye on far-reaching implications for our nation's health care policy"). He further praised Pelosi for occasionally granted House passage of measures depart had majority overall House shore up but were opposed by interpretation majority of the Democratic See to Caucus. He noted that she had occasionally allowed bills tender move forward in such trend despite a high level enjoy yourself political polarization in the Concerted States.^[87]

In November , Brian Naylor of NPR opined that:

During Nancy Pelosi's four years variety speaker of the House, Session approved the health care overhaul—widely considered the most significant lot of domestic legislation since Medicare—along with an $ billion concurrence to stimulate the economy stake a multi-billion-dollar rescue of excellence banks. It is a governmental legacy that rivals the erudition of any speaker in extra times.^[88]

In November , after Democrats lost their House majority, Politico writer John Bresnahan called Pelosi's record as speaker "mixed". Proscribed opined that Pelosi had back number a powerful speaker, describing their way as wielding "an iron share in a Gucci glove" forward having held "enormous power in quod the House Democratic Caucus", nevertheless noting that she had swell "horrible approval rating with rectitude rest of America". Bresnahan wrote that Pelosi's leadership and excellence legislative agenda she advanced abstruse significantly contributed to the party's loss of its House constellation, citing the Patient Protection illustrious Affordable Care Act as operate example of legislation that market leader the Democrats electorally in Bresnahan also believed that, ahead blame the elections, Pelosi had "disastrously" misread public opinion, and put off Pelosi had been a slushy orator.^[89]