What Made Her 'Madam Speaker'

Growing up in Baltimore’s Little Italy, Nancy D'Alessandro never pictured herself running for office. She watched her father campaign for Congress and for mayor; she helped her mother with the nitty-gritty of organizing and keeping track of political favors.  Biographer Susan Page says that only after Nancy Pelosi had moved across the country, raised five children, chaired the California Democratic Party and raised millions for other candidates did she run for Congress herself--and a decade later pushed herself onto the path toward speaker. Pelosi told Page her father’s advice resonated.“No one is going to give you power, you have to seize it. So even if you think you deserve power, don’t think you’re going to be rewarded. You have to go out and fight for it and win it.”  Links: Ivy Book Shop virtual event July 22 at 7pm.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472