Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters

Nancy Pelosi was never a stranger to public service. She grew up the only daughter of Baltimore mayor Tommy D'Alesandro, known for leading one of the great political organizations of the century. When she became a wife and mother, Nancy devoted her time to raising her five children.Still, she maintained her interest in public service and became a vital part of the Democratic community in her husband, Paul's hometown of San Francisco. Ever the delegator, Nancy even put her children to work stuffing envelopes and serving cheese and crackers to the party faithful. And as the kids grew older, she grew increasingly active, soon becoming chair of the California Democratic Party. Overwhelmingly elected as House Democratic leader in 2002, Pelosi rallied the House Democrats to become more unified than they had been at any other time in the past fifty years, then led them to victory in November 2006. In January 2007, she was elected the first woman Speaker of the House, second in line to the presidency. She received the gavel as she has led her life, surrounded by children.