The Woman Who Would Be Speaker

Pelosi was first elected to the House at 47, after she raised her five children. She grew up as a member of a prominent Maryland political family and developed an interest in politics at an early age. Her father, Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., was mayor of Baltimore for 12 years, and her brother, Thomas J. D'Alesandro III, later served as mayor for four years.

She attended Trinity College in Washington, a Catholic girls school, and met and married Paul Pelosi, today a millionaire investor. The couple settled in San Francisco, and Pelosi honed her political skills and developed a name while driving carpool -- as a fundraiser, state party chairwoman and Democratic National Committee member.

Markey said Pelosi was "no ordinary freshman" when she arrived through a special election. She was someone who could pick up the phone and call first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and raise millions when asked. Substantively, colleagues said she proved herself on key committees, including Appropriations and Intelligence.

In 2001, she successfully challenged the old boys' network by running for minority whip against the favored Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (Md.), because, she said, she saw "more of the same" ahead for Democrats.

She quickly consolidated her power, sending a strong message to those she saw as adversaries. "If someone is her enemy, she shuts them out. She closes them down," Murtha said.

Members took note when Pelosi gave $10,000 to former Democratic representative Lynn Nancy Rivers of Michigan, whom reapportionment had pitted against a Democratic lion of the House, John D. Dingell, who had voted for Hoyer. "She was with the people who supported her," said Miller, her friend.

Murtha and others said she never brought Hoyer into her circle, although he is her No. 2 in the House Democratic leadership. Hoyer said in an interview that "Nancy and I have worked very effectively together."

Pelosi said she holds no grudge against Hoyer, but members said there was no missing her intentions when she did not dissuade Murtha from challenging Hoyer for the No. 2 leadership post.

In describing her dealings with fellow Democrats, Pelosi said, "I expect a certain level of discipline when we have agreed on where we're going." Some members, she said, "mistake sometimes my courtesy for a lack of strength, and they ought not to do that."

Staff researcher Madonna Lebling contributed to this report.