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By Ford McCracken
Nancy Pelosi has served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019 and previously from 2007-2011. She currently serves as a representative for California’s 12th congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party. She is the first woman to ever serve as a Speaker of the House or a House Minority Leader, roles which she has held two separate times. But despite her political success in the House, she is viewed very negatively by members of the Republican Party, mostly due to her persistent antagonization of the opposition party. Despite her critics, she still remains 3rd in line to the presidency, should President Biden and Vice President Harris no longer be able to serve. She holds much power within the United States government and it appears she will continue to do so for quite some time.
What is Pelosi’s background?
Nancy Pelosi was bound to politics from an early age, with her father serving as a congressman from Maryland, as well as both he and her brother serving as Mayor of Baltimore. Her mother was very involved with political networking and aiming to get women into politics. This foundation set the stone for Pelosi to emerge onto the political scene, and she started by interning for various officials, including the person who now serves just below her, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). After moving to San Francisco, the relationship with key Democratic officials was helpful to gain support on the East Coast when she began working her way up the ranks of Democratic politics, beginning in the 70s. She served as a ranking member of the DNC well into the 1990s, including serving as host of the Democratic National Convention in 1984, which was held in her now native California.
Her experience in the DNC gained her great name recognition within the party itself, but she had a long way to go before she was well recognized by most of the American public. In 1978, after the passing of a congresswoman and friend, Pelosi ran in a special election for California’s 5th district and won, officially making her a congresswoman. From there she continued to work her way up the ranks, being the first woman to hold the position of House Minority Whip after being elected by her party in 2001. This was one of many firsts for Pelosi however, being the first woman to hold the position of House Minority Leader in 2002, and being unanimously voted Speaker of the House by her party in 2007.
What are some of Pelosi’s accomplishments?
The Bush Presidency
As Pelosi climbed the ranks in the House, she grew her influence as well, using it to defeat Republican agenda items even when her party wasn’t in the majority. For example, she led the movement to defeat President Bush’s Social Security reform bill, getting even many Republicans to vote against the president. But she wasn’t always in opposition to Republicans; sometimes she even agreed with them. Following the execution of the War in Iraq by President Bush, many Democrats felt that his conduct and use of force in the war was an impeachable offense, but Pelosi stood in firm opposition. Even after her party reclaimed the majority, Pelosi still refused to begin the process of impeachment.
The Obama Presidency
It is widely known that one of the biggest accomplishments of the Obama administration was the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, which vowed to make healthcare accessible for all, regardless of employment or medical status. Pelosi was the congresswoman to lead the passage of this bill in the House, although it was not an easy path despite the large Democratic majorities at that time. Democrats were just short of 60 seats in the U.S. Senate, meaning Republicans could use the filibuster to block the package. The planned strategy by Obama was to pass parts of the healthcare bill incrementally, allowing an easier pathway for a passage that might get Republican support. But Pelosi refused this strategy, promising the president she could get it done altogether. She was correct, and under her leadership in Congress, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Obama in 2010.
The Trump Presidency
During the Trump administration, Pelosi was thrust into the national spotlight like never before. Beginning as minority leader for the 7th straight year, she held several meetings regarding sexual harassment and how Congress should be involved with ensuring there is a safe work environment for men and women to thrive in. But this was far from the end, as she attacked her Republican colleagues for leading a “cover-up campaign” after they protested the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. She continued to go after Republicans whom she considered corrupt and encouraged investigations and resignations to follow these allegations.
Pelosi wasn’t just interested in playing partisan politics, however, as she gave the longest speech the House has heard on record, speaking for 8 hours about how crucial the DACA program was to this country and why the Trump administration’s efforts to overturn it were inhumane.
She would not remain a minority leader for long, however, as following the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats retook control of the House, and Pelosi was re-elected as Speaker. In 2019, Trump allowed the government to shut down until he got money to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. As a result of the effects of the shutdown, Pelosi promptly denied him the opportunity to deliver his State of the Union address. Pelosi’s feud with Trump continued during Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address. Following the speech, Pelosi tore up her copy directly in front of the camera, calling the speech “dirty” and saying the move was better than “the alternatives''.
But perhaps the two most notable accomplishments of Pelosi’s speakership, and the reason she is regarded as so influential, are the two impeachments of President Trump. In 2019, Pelosi led the first inquiry into the president regarding his alleged attempt to recruit foreign powers to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. The House of Representatives impeached Trump, whereas the Senate acquitted him in the trial. Both votes were along party lines, with almost all Democrats and Republicans voting for and against, respectively. The second impeachment of President Trump was one that was far more well-known and supported by the American public. Following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Pelosi and House Democrats began straight with an impeachment vote, accusing Trump of inciting the violence. While the vote was largely along party lines, it was the most bipartisan impeachment vote in history. 11 House Republicans and all Democrats voted for it, and although Trump was once again acquitted in the Senate, 7 Republicans and all Democrats voted guilty. Both impeachment votes are regarded as accomplishments of the Pelosi speakership, hence why she is considered one of the most powerful women in the world—no other House Speaker can say they impeached a sitting president twice.
Nancy Pelosi remains in an important position of power, and her influence continues to extend beyond the U.S. Government. In 2008, she wrote a book titled Know Your Power about her experience in politics as a woman and the lessons she wants to pass on to young women who are eager to advance in their careers. She is certainly in a place to speak on the matter given her many firsts in government, and her position serves as a message to girls and women all over the world: never be afraid to be the first to do something.
Discussion Questions
Does Pelosi’s unpopularity, as shown in public polling, signal an end to her leadership in the House?
Legislative accomplishments aside, has Nancy Pelosi’s leadership provided a net benefit to Democrats electorally?
What does the future have in store for Nancy Pelosi?
Sources Used
Further Reading
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