on Nancy Patricia D’Alesandro, popularly known as Nancy Pelosi, was born on March 26, 1940. She is a prominent American politician who has served as the speaker of the United States House of Representatives twice, from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023. She is also the first woman, the first Californian, and the first Italian-American to hold this position. She is a member of the Democratic Party and represents California’s 11th congressional district, which covers most of San Francisco.
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Nancy Pelosi Biography
| Full Name | Nancy Patricia D’Alesandro |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 26, 1940 |
| Place of Birth | March 26, 1940 |
| Role | American Politician |
| Parents | Thomas D’Alesandro Jr. (Father) Annunciata M. Lombardi (Mother) |
| Children | Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul Jr., and Alexandra |
| Net Worth | $114 million |
| Social Media Handles |
|
Early Life and Education
Nancy Pelosi was born on March 26, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the youngest of six children and the only girl in her family. Her father, Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., was a Democratic politician who served as a U.S. representative and the mayor of Baltimore. Her mother, Annunciata M. Lombardi, was a homemaker and an influential figure in the local Democratic Party. Pelosi grew up in a devout Catholic and politically active family. She attended the Institute of Notre Dame, a Catholic girls’ high school, where she was a leader and an excellent student. She graduated in 1958 and enrolled at Trinity College in Washington, D.C., where she majored in political science. Nancy Pelosi graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962.
Career
Nancy Pelosi began her political career as a volunteer and an organizer for the Democratic Party in California. She worked for several politicians, including Senator Joseph Tydings, Governor Jerry Brown, and Congressman Phillip Burton. She also became involved in various causes, such as women’s rights, environmental protection, and human rights. Nancy Pelosi rose to prominence as the chairwoman of the California Democratic Party from 1981 to 1983. She also served as the finance chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 1985 to 1986. In 1987, she won a special election to fill the vacant seat of Phillip Burton‘s successor and her friend, Sala Burton, in the House of Representatives. She has been reelected 18 times since then, with no serious opposition.
Nancy Pelosi quickly established herself as a powerful and influential leader in the House. She served on various committees, such as Appropriations, Intelligence, and Ethics. She also became a member of the Democratic leadership, serving as the whip from 2001 to 2002. Nancy Pelosi also served as the minority leader from 2003 to 2006. In 2007, she made history by becoming the first woman to be elected as the speaker of the House, a position she held until 2011 when the Republicans regained the majority. She continued to serve as the minority leader from 2011 to 2018 and regained the speakership in 2019 after the Democrats won the majority in the 2018 midterm elections. She is currently the second in line to the presidency, after the vice president.
Nancy Pelosi has been a key figure in shaping and passing many landmark legislations such as the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act, the Violence Against Women Act, the Dream Act, and the Equality Act. She has also been a vocal critic of the policies and actions of the Republican presidents, such as George W. Bush, Donald Trump, and Ron DeSantis. She led the impeachment efforts against Trump twice, in 2019 and 2021, making him the only president to be impeached twice in U.S. history.
Political Positions
Nancy Pelosi is widely regarded as one of the most liberal and progressive members of Congress. She supports the expansion of health care, the protection of the environment, the regulation of the financial sector, the reform of the immigration system, the promotion of civil rights, the defense of human rights, the reduction of poverty, the increase of education, the enhancement of national security, and the strengthening of democracy. Nancy Pelosi opposes the privatization of Social Security, the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, the intervention in Iraq and Syria, the ban on abortion, the restriction of gun control, the suppression of voting rights, and the erosion of the rule of law. She is also a strong advocate for the rights and interests of women, children, workers, seniors, veterans, minorities, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ people.
Personal Life
Nancy Pelosi married Paul Pelosi, a businessman and a venture capitalist, in 1963. They have five children: Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul Jr., and Alexandra. They also have nine grandchildren. Pelosi and her husband live in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, and they own several properties in California, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Pelosi is a practicing Catholic, and she attends Mass regularly. She is also an avid reader, a fan of chocolate, and a supporter of the Baltimore Orioles and the San Francisco Giants.
Honors and Decorations
Nancy Pelosi has received numerous honors and decorations for her achievements and contributions to the nation and the world. Some of the most notable ones are:
- The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., awarded by President Barack Obama in 2011.
- The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the highest honor in Italy, awarded by President Sergio Mattarella in 2015.
- The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest honor in Japan, awarded by Emperor Akihito in 2015.
- The Profile in Courage Award, the prestigious award given by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, awarded in 2019.
- The Glamour Woman of the Year Award, the influential award given by the Glamour magazine, awarded in 2018 and 2020.
- The Barbara Walters Most Fascinating Person of the Year Award, the annual award given by the journalist Barbara Walters, awarded in 2006 and 2019.
- The Time 100 Most Influential People in the World List, the annual list compiled by the Time magazine, included in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2019, and 2020.
Net Worth
Nancy Pelosi is one of the wealthiest members of Congress, with an estimated net worth of $114 million. Her wealth comes mainly from her husband’s investments in various sectors, such as real estate, technology, energy, and sports. Some of their assets include a vineyard in Napa Valley, a golf club in San Francisco, a stake in the Sacramento Mountain Lions football team, and shares in Apple, Facebook, Visa, and Disney. Pelosi also earns a salary of $223,500 as the speaker of the House, which is the second-highest salary among the federal officials, after the president.
Social Media Handles
Nancy Pelosi is active on several social media platforms, where she communicates with her constituents, colleagues, supporters, and critics. She also shares her views, opinions, and updates on various issues and events. Here are some of her social media handles:
- Twitter: @SpeakerPelosi
- Facebook: Nancy Pelosi
- Instagram: @speakerpelosi
- YouTube: Nancy Pelosi
- Website: www.pelosi.house.gov
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