Nancy Pelosi announces end to nearly four decades in Congress

Consider This from NPR

NPR

Society & Culture, News, Daily News, News Commentary

4.1 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Nancy Pelosi is arguably the most powerful woman in American history. After her election to Congress in 1987, she accumulated more and more power, eventually rising to become Speaker of the House in 2007, the first and only woman to hold that office.

Now in her 20th term, Pelosi announced Thursday morning that she will not seek reelection.

Susan Page is Washington Bureau chief for USA Today and author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power. She joined Consider This host Juana Summers to talk about Pelosi's achievements -- and her legacy.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at [email protected].

This episode was produced by Michael Levitt, with audio engineering by Jimmy Keeley. It was edited by Christopher Intagliata, Courtney Dorning and Nadia Lancy. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	An era in American politics is coming to an end.
0:04.0	With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as you're a proud representative.
0:09.6	In a video dedicated to her San Francisco constituents, Nancy Pelosi announced today she will not seek re-election.
0:18.1	Pelosi was first elected to Congress nearly four decades ago in 1987, and the
0:23.4	freshman Democrat quickly established herself as a bold voice in the House chamber.
0:27.7	Also the gentlelady from California.
0:30.6	Mr. Speaker, I'm saddened and outraged at the murder of Herbert Anaya.
0:34.6	Here she is in an early speech on the House floor talking about the murder of a human rights
0:39.0	leader. Mr. Anaya was a man of dignity and courage, who was committed to the work for peace in his
0:44.5	own war-torn country. Her influence only grew as she accumulated power, becoming minority whip for
0:50.6	the Democratic Party, then minority leader, and finally, in 2007, Speaker of the House,
0:57.8	the first and only woman to attain that role.
1:00.9	I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship. And I look forward to working.
1:09.5	As Speaker, Pelosi was a key ally to former President Barack Obama, and she was instrumental
1:15.5	in passing the landmark Affordable Care Act.
1:18.4	The yeas are 220, the nays are 215.
1:24.9	The bill is passed.
1:28.6	But as an opponent, she was also known not to mince her words.
1:32.6	Here she is speaking to CNN's Wolf Blitzer about then-President George W. Bush in 2008.
1:38.4	God bless him, bless his heart, the president of the United States, a total failure of losing all
1:43.3	credibility with the American people
1:44.8	on the economy, on the war, on energy.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 1 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.