Across a dozen years of her childhood, little Nancy D’Alesandro’s daddy, Tommy D’Alesandro Jr., was mayor of Baltimore. In her early 20s, her brother, Tommy, had the job.
It’s the family business.
Across the last several decades, it’s been Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi who broadened the legacy. As speaker of the House, she became the highest-ranking female politician in American history.
Now there’s reporting that the family business might get extended.
As Pelosi, 82, watches the polls, she flirts with her future. Four years ago, she indicated she’d be ready to retire after 2022. But earlier this year, she announced she was running for another two-year term.
But Pelosi’s final decision could hinge on this fall’s elections. If Republicans take control of the House, she’s no longer speaker. If the power’s gone, what’s the point in sticking around?
Waiting in the wings, the New York Times reports, is another family member, Pelosi’s daughter, Christine Pelosi. She’s a party activist and Democratic National Committee executive committee member. She’s former chair of the women’s caucus of California Democratic Party.
Also, she’s her mother’s shadow at countless political appearances.
In its weekend story on the daughter’s possible run for Pelosi’s potentially vacated congressional seat from San Francisco, the New York Times Shane Goldmacher wrote:
“Wrapped up in the elder Ms. Pelosi’s decision and its timing are intertwined questions of power, legacy and dynasty, and how fully a barrier-breaking, notoriously competitive public figure can stage-manage her exit. Would-be candidates, labor leaders, political strategists, donors and activists are already busily plotting what what a race to succeed her would look like — albeit, almost entirely in secret, to avoid antagonizing Ms. Pelosi, who has made plain she wants to retire on her own terms.
“In San Francisco,” Goldmacher wrote, “the Pelosi name remains beloved.”
Events of the past week have kept the speaker’s name in headlines. There was her China-defying trip to Taiwan. There was the House passage of sweeping measures on climate change and prescription drug prices.
“A glorious day for us,” Nancy Pelosi said.
But she’s not saying anything, for the moment, about her future — or her daughter’s. She’s waiting until this fall’s elections. So is the daughter.
Michael Olesker’s newest book, “Boogie: Life on A Merry-Go-Round,” was recently published by Apprentice House. It’s the life story of Baltimore legend Leonard “Boogie” Weinglass, an original “Diner” guy who grew up to create the Merry-Go-Round clothing chain and contribute millions to charity.
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