The view from the press gallery of the House of Representatives is usually a boring one. It includes a sea of empty seats below with a member of what is often derided as “the lower body” of Congress droning on about some pedestrian local issue.
It takes some momentous matter to alter that view. One occurred the other day when a grandmother of six named Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as history?s first woman speaker of the House, second in line of succession to the presidency behind only Vice President Dick Cheney.
This assumption of the speakership would have been notable in any event. It marked the return to Democratic control of the House, along with the Senate, for the first time in 12 years, interrupting the essential rubber-stamping of the will of Republican President George W. Bush.
But the ascension of a radiant Pelosi, smilingly rejoicing in this political milestone for her gender, for the House itself and for American politics, was what ignited the rare spectacle of celebration on the floor and in the visitors? galleries.
It is customary for new members of the House of both parties, and some others with small children, to bring the kids to the chamber to witness a family hallmark. But this first elevation of a woman to the speaker?s chair, with many of her own brood around her, turned the usually dreary scene on the floor uncommonly lighthearted.
As the Democratic side of the aisle spilled over into some seats on the Republican side and bathed Pelosi in cheers and applause, most Republican members in good if restrained spirit rose andclapped as well for the resplendent woman whose trim appearance belies her 66 years.
While Pelosi herself has been a fiercely partisan Democrat, and has been a favorite catalyst for Republican animosity that labels her a “San Francisco liberal,” she showed her most conciliatory side in promising a partnership with them. They in turn remain skeptical, in light of the Democrats? decision to conduct a “first 100 hours” of legislating by limiting Republican involvement, before entering that partnership.
The scene was reminiscent in reverse of another more restrained bipartisanship in the same House 12 years earlier. Then, outgoing Democratic Majority Leader Richard Gephardt rather wistfully turned over the speaker?s gavel to Republican Leader Newt Gingrich.
Then too the members of the losing party joined in applause for the new speaker, but with minimal enthusiasm that did not veil the wide dislike and distrust of the House Democrats toward the deeply divisive Gingrich.
The cameo was particularly bitter for Gephardt, who had long hoped to become speaker himself, and worked unsuccessfully thereafter to achieve that goal.
Gingrich, as the new speaker, launched his Contract with America in steamroller fashion but in the end it crumbled, along with his political fortunes. Pelosi has gotten off to a fast start with House approval of a strong ethics package designed to end the “climate of corruption” the Democrats charged in winning the 2006 elections.
But once the “first 100 hours” are over, the test of her leadership will come if, as promised, the Democrats open the legislative process and enable the Republicans the opportunities to amend bills denied themselves during recent GOP-controlled years.
Even as President Bush prepared to present his “new way forward” in Iraq, Pelosi in her first remarks as speaker served notice that ending the war remains at the top of her personal agenda. Though House Democrats have not been able to find a clear voice on the war, a majority of them did vote against Bush?s 2002 war resolution, and Democratic opposition has grown appreciably since then.
While trying to rein in the Bush war policies, Pelosi also seeks to advance Democratic social agendas like expanded health care that will severely test the quest for deficit reduction to which Bush himself says he is committed. The winning charm that she showered on the House as she was sworn in as speaker will require an equally heavy dose of toughness over the next two years.
Jules Witcover, a Baltimore Examiner columnist, is syndicated by Tribune Media Services. He has covered national affairs from Washington for more than 50 years and is the author of 11 books, and co-author of five others, on American politics and history.
