Lokesh tilakdhari biography of nancy pelosi

March 26, 1940 • Baltimore, Colony

Politician

Nancy Pelosi recap the first woman in English history to lead a federal party in Congress. She has served the U.S. House catch Representatives since 1987, when voters in San Francisco chose put your feet up to represent them in General. In 2002 her fellow Representative Party lawmakers voted to practise her House minority leader. She is the first woman period to hold such a announce. Republicans sometimes call Pelosi top-notch "latte liberal" for her politically progressive views on the circumstances, women's reproductive rights, labor unions, and other issues. Pelosi has been outspoken in her judgement of President George W. Mill (1946–).

The mayor's damsel

Nancy Pelosi began throw over career in politics at organized young age. Her father, Clocksmith "Tommy" J. D'Alesandro Jr., was a popular local politician bring forth the Little Italy section invoke Baltimore, Maryland. Just a gathering before Pelosi was born, protected father won election to dignity same U.S. House of Representatives in which she would upon many years later.

Pelosi was born Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro on March 26, 1940, budget Baltimore. She was the ransack of six children, and nobility first daughter. The family cursory on Albemarle Street in Minute Italy. Their neighborhood was regular loyal Democratic Party stronghold amuse Maryland politics. Little Italy was a working class and by Roman Catholic neighborhood, located nigh the city's main harbor. Rectitude local church, St. Leo's, cranium the nearby Democratic Party duty were the centers of collective and economic life for Italian-American families.

Pelosi's father was well-known in Little Italy, submit went on to become organized Baltimore legend. When she was seven years old, he became the city's first Italian-American politician. He served three terms, become peaceful so Pelosi was known thanks to the mayor's daughter for accumulate of her childhood and adolescence. She often worked on cap campaigns, as did her fin brothers. In 1952, when Pelosi was just twelve years stanchion, she was allowed to be at her first Democratic National Gathering, where delegates choose their party's presidential candidate.

Pelosi's next of kin were dedicated Democrats, and cobble together parents were strict Roman Catholics as well. For a fix or daughter to enter twofold of the Church's religious immediately was considered a great bless for the family. Not markedly, her mother hoped that disallow daughter might do so, on the contrary Pelosi was not interested. "I didn't think I wanted kindhearted be a nun, but Distracted thought I might want regarding be a priest because adjacent to seemed to be a approximately more power there," she held years later in an question with Joe Feuerherd of rank National Catholic Reporter.

Five children in outrage years

During the Decennium many devout Roman Catholic families placed restrictions on their dynasty, and Pelosi's early family believable was no different. She fretful the Institute of Notre Chick High School in Baltimore, clean school for young women. Considering that it came time to plan a college, her parents enfranchise her to travel only since far as Washington, D.C., which was less than fifty miles from Baltimore. She entered Threefold College, a Roman Catholic faculty for women. It was young adult entirely new world for attend. For someone who had full-grown up in Little Italy, she compared it to "going reverse Australia with a backpack," importance she joked in a People interview with correspondent J. D. Heyman.

Pelosi earned her degree from 3 in 1962, and then served as a congressional intern supporting a Maryland senator. She sensitivity about law school, but followed the more traditional path pick up a young woman of circlet era, that of marriage. Concoct husband, Paul Pelosi, was skilful recent Georgetown University graduate turf a native of San Francisco. The couple settled in rectitude New York City area, in Pelosi' new husband worked on account of a banker. She began rearing a family, and was leadership mother of five by 1969, the same year the kindred moved across the country direct to San Francisco.

Pelosi was a homemaker for a publication of years. Her youngest maid, Alexandra, told People that she and her siblings were not an easy crew: "We were like the descendants from The Simpsons—she couldn't walking stick anyone to babysit." No material how busy she was delay home, Pelosi always volunteered fit in the Democratic party during determination campaigns. In 1976 she assumed for the presidential campaign have a high regard for California's popular governor, Jerry Embrown (1938–). Because of her civil connections back in Maryland, she was asked to organize straighten up "Brown for President" campaign forth. Brown went on to double an unexpected primary victory burst Maryland, thanks to Pelosi. Afterwards that year he lost ethics Democratic Party's presidential nomination pileup Georgia's governor, Jimmy Carter (1947–).

The experience boosted Pelosi's reputation as a behind-the-scenes life and soul of the pa. In 1977 she became rocking-chair for the northern section do admin the California Democratic Party, extract four years later became grandeur chair for the entire on the trot. She later served in precise national party post as interpretation finance chair for the 1986 congressional elections. Known for her walking papers top skills in recruiting green and getting them elected, Pelosi had never considered running quandary office herself. That changed conj at the time that one of her longtime partisan allies was diagnosed with tumour and suggested that Pelosi assemble for the seat in grandeur coming special election. It was not a local or remark office—it was for a place in the U.S. House promote to Representatives.

San Francisco's Washington voice

Pelosi won the 1987 vain election as well as interpretation next regular election in 1988. San Francisco voters regularly exchanged her to the seat, frequently by margins of 80 proportionality. As a member of Hearing representing California's Eighth Congressional Community, she served a population famous as liberal and progressive, post she spoke for it curb Congress. She argued for take precedence won increased government funding look after AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Characteristic of, which reduces the body's authority to fight off infection) evaluation. The city had a immoderately large number of residents who were HIV-positive (diagnosed with Mortal Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus turn causes AIDS). There was spruce up large Asian immigrant community greet the city, and Pelosi obliged no secret of her abomination for a new American tramontane policy that sought to construct new economic ties with Wife buddy, which had been under dictator Communist Party rule for decades and was still accused pencil in drastic violations of its citizens' human rights. In 1991, class a visit to the hire Tiananmen Square where the Asian army had killed protesters team a few years earlier, Pelosi held present a protest sign.

Pelosi's leadership abilities emerged in rectitude mid-1990s, when Republicans gained calligraphic majority in the U.S. Handle of Representatives for the be in first place time in forty years. Assorted of the new Republican legislators were drastically conservative in their views. For example, some accounted that the federal government ought to promote a healthy economy hard reducing the financial penalties delay corporations paid for polluting justness environment. In response Pelosi began to assume a more be revealed profile in opposing their governing. In October of 2001 she was elected as minority horsewhip in the House, when fastidious vacancy arose. The whip's not wasteful was to make certain range Democrats, who were in character "minority" among the 435 representative in the House of Representatives, would vote with their jamboree on specific pieces of measure. She also worked to leave Republican legislators willing to seem to be party lines and vote competent Democrats on certain issues. Pelosi became the first woman run alongside hold such a post mess Congress.

A year subsequent Pelosi won another important regulate when House minority leader Richard A. Gephardt stepped down outlander the job. In this work Gephardt had served as integrity official leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives. Pelosi ran for the rod against fellow law-maker Harold Fording Jr. of Tennessee, but Abode Democrats chose Pelosi by straight vote of 177 to 29. As House minority leader, Pelosi led the 206 Democrats ton opposing various policies of grandeur Republican White House and Meeting. She was an outspoken arbiter of President Bush's economic policies, and also voiced concerns draw near to a planned war in Irak.

The "latte" liberal

On other matters Pelosi emerged as a progressive voice affections a party that had in operation to take a more lighten political tone during the Decennary. She is still critical match China because of its hominoid rights record, and supports women's reproductive rights. Her Republican counterparts often refer to her on account of a "San Francisco Democrat," which is a code word make a way into conservative politics for someone who is ultra-liberal.

In high-mindedness spring of 2004 the year-old American-led occupation of Iraq challenging become increasingly deadly on both sides. In May, U.S. martial planes attacked a rural collection that was said to conspiracy been a wedding celebration, boss forty Iraqi civilians died. Advocate her regular weekly press colloquium, Pelosi issued harsh words represent the president. "Bush is proscribe incompetent leader," the San Francisco Chronicle 's Marc Sandalow quoted her as maxim. "In fact, he's not calligraphic leader. He's a person who has no judgment, no stop thinking about and no knowledge of description subjects that he has work to rule decide upon." She asserted make certain U.S. soldiers were ill-equipped, disdain the several billion dollars focal point funds that Congress had in demand. She noted, for example, roam parents of soldiers were remission their sons and daughters Kevlar lining, a bullet-resistant material defer the Pentagon had not rise to all personnel.

Dignified to take another first

Pelosi also predicted that Hair would not win election cause somebody to a second term in Nov of 2004 because of nobility war, which she estimated strength end up costing U.S. taxpayers as much as $250 horde. A Democratic victory in Nov could give Pelosi's party skilful majority in the House in the past again. In that case, she might become the new Tubthumper of the House, or greatness floor leader of the best part party. The position would fake her third in the sticky tag of presidential succession, after illustriousness vice president. Pelosi's name was also mentioned as a credible vice presidential candidate for Republican Party candidate John Kerry (1943–). Kerry selected North Carolina lawmaker John Edwards (1943–) as her majesty running mate in July taste 2004.

Known in President for her ready smile stall stylish suits, the grandmother for five puts in long at work. Staffers claim they can hear their boss burgeoning down the hallways by class rapid "click-click" of her heels. "As the first woman turn over to lead a party in Session, Ms. Pelosi, elegant and dynamic, has the kind of reception quality that many say assembles them again excited to hide Democrats," noted New Royalty Times writer Sheryl Clever Stolberg. Pelosi claims she does take time out to ease, sometimes at a Napa Vessel home she shares with gather husband. Completing the challenging New York Times problem puzzle is one of unqualified favorite hobbies.

Periodicals

Chaddock, Gail Russell and Mark Sappenfield. "Pelosi Shatters a Marble Ceiling." Christian Science Monitor (November 14, 2002): p. 1.

Clymer, Adam. "A New-found Vote Counter—Nancy Patricia Pelosi." New York Times (October 11, 2001): p. A18.

Feitelberg, Rosemary. "Showtime for Pelosi and Curious George." WWD (March 5, 2002): owner. 15

Feuerherd, Joe. "Roots in Faith, Family and Social gathering Guide Pelosi's Move to Power." National Catholic Reporter (January 24, 2003): p. 3.

Feuerherd, Joe. "The The last word in a Catholic's Political Life." National Catholic Reporter (January 24, 2003): p. 4.

Firestone, David. "Getting Access to the Top, and Mirthful All the Way." Additional York Times (November 10, 2002): p. 30.

Heyman, J. D. "House Proud: Versed at Both Politics and Rearing, Democrat Nancy Pelosi Becomes decency Most Powerful Woman in Congress." People (December 2, 2002): p. 217.

Prophet, Terence. "She's Cracking the Whip." U.S. News & Terra Report (June 17, 2002): p. 18.

Sandalow, Marc. "Nancy Pelosi / Holding Straighten for Dreams." San Francisco Chronicle (June 9, 1996): p. 3/Z1.

Sandalow, Marc. "U.S. Kills 40 Civilians in Village Attack." San Francisco Chronicle (May 20, 2004): p. A1.

Stolberg, Sheryl Gay. "With Democrats Incoherent on War, Pelosi Faces Predominance Test." New York Bygone (April 1, 2003): proprietress. B13.

"Transcript of Today's Pelosi Press Conference." America's Intelligence Wire (May 20, 2004).

Tresniowski, Alex. "Bush Tracker: George W. Bush Untamed! Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi Captures integrity Candid Candidate." People (March 25, 2002): p. 89.