Pelosi Has a Mom's-Eye View

S he's the highest-ranking woman official in U.S. history -- the first female speaker of the House of Representatives and second in line to the presidency. But Nancy Pelosi says none of that tops being a mother and grandmother. The California Democrat, whose father was mayor of Baltimore when she was growing up, sat down recently with KidsPost's Marylou Tousignant and Brenna Maloney to talk about her remarkable life.

What does the speaker do?

"The speaker of the House has the power to do two main things: to set the agenda for the floor of the House of Representatives, in terms of what legislation can come to the floor, and to appoint members of Congress to committees. The speaker calls the House to order, brings up a schedule of legislation . . . and has the power of [deciding] whom to recognize for debate."

What's the hardest part of the job?

"The days where we . . . debate over the funding of the war in Iraq. . . . It's a big responsibility to send our men and women into war and then to talk about how the funds will be used."

And what's the best part? The view of the Mall from your office is pretty cool.

"I always say, 'It's a beautiful view, but not as beautiful as the view from the [speaker's] podium.'

"Here's the thing: I'm a mom and a grandma. I have five children and seven grandchildren. My role in politics I view as a continuation of my role as a mom. So my agenda . . . is a children's agenda: What is it that we are doing to make the future better for the children, whether it's their . . . health, their education, the economic security of their families, a clean environment in which they can thrive, a world at peace."