Speaker Nancy Pelosi
TCG OPINION - From the Desk of the CEO
We will miss a remarkable—indeed, singular—leader in Congress. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced yesterday that she will not seek reelection for her seat representing San Francisco.
The first woman to rise to the position of Speaker of the House, Pelosi is considered by many to be one of the most effective Speakers in U.S. history. (Just ask opponents like Newt Gingrich).. With boundless energy, careful strategic maneuvering, a deep understanding of her caucus, her constituents, her foes, and the pulse of the nation, Nancy Pelosi was a commanding leader like no other in recent history - who could rule with deep wells of civility and grace, despite often vicious and unrelenting attacks from opponents.
Pelosi never shied away from wearing lipstick, feminine power suits, or high heels, and, even after she entered her 80’s, she showed women that they, too, have an important place at the table, as she brought her empowerment message to women in her books and in her consequential tenure as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House.
The Common Good was proud to recognize her achievements with our American Spirit Award—and they were legion. Over her 39 years in Congress, she helped to bring the landmark Affordable Care Act across the finish line, allowing millions of Americans access to health care too long denied them, weighed in with humanity on the HIV/AIDS crisis and the legalization of gay marriage, and was instrumental in climate change legislation and infrastructure programs. Her major votes included opposing President George W. Bush’s Iraq war and also presiding over historic battles—such as the bipartisan House Committee that investigated the January 6 storming of the House, intent on stopping the certification of the 2020 election, and the rare impeachment of the President.
These events were all set against growing polarization and now political violence caused by an increase in divisive and threatening rhetoric, phony conspiracy theories, and misinformation. Yet Pelosi persisted even after her husband was brutally attacked in their home in the Bay Area.
We trust that Pelosi will continue to be a voice of decency, needed change, and hope for a better America. We need her now more than ever.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
U.S. Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1987, winning a special election of California’s 8th district. As a member of the House of Representatives, she has served on the Appropriations Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In 2002, Pelosi was selected to be the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, making her the first woman in history earn the honor. Four years later, she again broke new ground for women in U.S. politics. After the Democrats won majorities in both the House and the Senate in the 2006 midterm elections, Pelosi was chosen to become the first woman to take the post of speaker of the House.
As the leader of the Democratic Party in the House under a Republican president, Pelosi was a vocal critic of President George W. Bush’s stance on the war in Iraq and advocated for the withdrawal of troops from the region. Pelosi remained House speaker until November 2010, when Republicans gained control of the House and elected John Boehner to the role, relegating Pelosi to minority leader. After Democrats reclaimed control of the House in the 2018 midterms, Pelosi was once again elected House speaker at the beginning of 2019, placing her on the front line in the battle with President Donald Trump over his demand for $5.7 billion for a wall spanning the U.S.-Mexico border. The stalemate turned into a contentious 35-day government shutdown, with the speaker drawing most of the president’s ire for her control over congressional funding. However, shortly after Pelosi effectively canceled the traditional State of the Union address, scheduled for January 29, President Trump agreed to temporarily reopen the government.
Speaker Pelosi was hosted by The Common Good in 2012: House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Twitter: @NancyPelosi
Read more: