Opinion: “I’m Emancipated Now”: Nancy Pelosi Enjoying Life After Leadership

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) has been living her best life since stepping down from her leadership position. The 82-year-old Pelosi is no stranger to Capitol Hill, having served in Congress since 1987 and two historic stints as the first and only female Speaker of the House.

The Times recently spent a day with Pelosi and her team to see how she is adjusting to life outside of leadership. She began her day with ice cream for breakfast and ended it church-style dancing to a performance of the Resistance Revival Chorus. Pelosi’s new role is a mixed bag – she’s able to speak her mind more freely and has a newfound freedom, but she still wants to pick and choose her moments because she no longer speaks for the House Democratic Caucus.

Pelosi’s Newest Chapter

Pelosi’s colleagues view her as a national congresswoman – a woman who represents a single district but has a platform that extends far beyond the borders of San Francisco – and is someone other Democrats look to for advice and wisdom.

Now that she’s freed of the obligation to be cognizant of how her words will play beyond her individual districts, Pelosi feels unbound and unfettered. She intends to be more vocal about preserving the nation’s democracy and also plans to write a book. Pelosi has been busy since leaving leadership, but she has found time for herself, which would have been impossible if she were still the Democratic leader.

Pelosi’s New Role as a Mixed Bag

Pelosi’s new role is a mixed bag, and while it has its perks, she’s had to adjust to not having a 24/7 schedule, no committee assignments, and loathes downtime. Pelosi has lost the bulk of her staff and coveted office space as well. The former House speaker has traded in her leadership title for the honorific Speaker Emerita, carving out a new role in Congress without modern precedent.

Related Facts

• Pelosi has served in Congress since she won a special election in the summer of 1987.
• She spent two decades in leadership, including two historic stints as the first and only female Speaker of the House.
• Pelosi announced in November that she would step down from leadership but continue to represent her San Francisco district in Congress.

Key Takeaway

Nancy Pelosi is enjoying her newfound freedom and has found time for herself since leaving leadership. Although her new role is a mixed bag, Pelosi intends to be more vocal about preserving the nation’s democracy and has plans to write a book. She’s adjusting to not having a 24/7 schedule, no committee assignments, and has no downtime.

Conclusion

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is enjoying life after leadership. Her new role is a mixed bag, and while it has its perks, she’s had to adjust. Pelosi has big plans for her newfound freedom and intends to be more vocal about preserving the nation’s democracy.