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| Steering Impeachment With an Iron Grip, Pelosi Forges a Legacy She Never Sought | Steering Impeachment With an Iron Grip, Pelosi Forges a Legacy She Never Sought |
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| WASHINGTON — Hours before she announced the House would investigate whether to impeach President Trump, Speaker Nancy Pelosi received a call from him at her Washington home, ostensibly to talk about gun violence. But he quickly changed the topic to Ukraine. | WASHINGTON — Hours before she announced the House would investigate whether to impeach President Trump, Speaker Nancy Pelosi received a call from him at her Washington home, ostensibly to talk about gun violence. But he quickly changed the topic to Ukraine. |
| “He kept saying, ‘The call was perfect. When you see the notes, you’ll see the call was perfect,’” Ms. Pelosi recalled in an interview, sharing for the first time how Mr. Trump previewed a reconstructed transcript showing he had asked Ukraine’s president to investigate a political rival. | “He kept saying, ‘The call was perfect. When you see the notes, you’ll see the call was perfect,’” Ms. Pelosi recalled in an interview, sharing for the first time how Mr. Trump previewed a reconstructed transcript showing he had asked Ukraine’s president to investigate a political rival. |
| “Frankly, I thought, ‘Either he does not know right from wrong, or he doesn’t care,’” she said. | “Frankly, I thought, ‘Either he does not know right from wrong, or he doesn’t care,’” she said. |
| Now Mr. Trump is all but certain to become the third American president to be impeached. But when the final vote is tallied Wednesday on charges Mr. Trump abused his power and obstructed Congress, he will be one of two Washington figures to go down in the history books. | |
| The other is Ms. Pelosi. | |
| From the moment in January she ascended to the speakership for the second time — she is the only woman to ever hold the office — Ms. Pelosi has been the maestro of the unruly Democratic orchestra that crescendoed on Wednesday to an impeachment vote she sought mightily to avoid. Like a conductor, she has presided over the process with discipline and at times an iron fist, deciding which notes to hit, when to go fast and when to slow down — and when to allow the musicians to play solo. | From the moment in January she ascended to the speakership for the second time — she is the only woman to ever hold the office — Ms. Pelosi has been the maestro of the unruly Democratic orchestra that crescendoed on Wednesday to an impeachment vote she sought mightily to avoid. Like a conductor, she has presided over the process with discipline and at times an iron fist, deciding which notes to hit, when to go fast and when to slow down — and when to allow the musicians to play solo. |
| The pursuit is fraught with risks for Ms. Pelosi and the Democratic majority that handed her the gavel in January, and they could face a backlash from voters in 2020 for their decision to move forward with the effort to remove the president. Those dangers, including the possibility that they could lose control of the House, have been evident from the moment she took over as speaker. | The pursuit is fraught with risks for Ms. Pelosi and the Democratic majority that handed her the gavel in January, and they could face a backlash from voters in 2020 for their decision to move forward with the effort to remove the president. Those dangers, including the possibility that they could lose control of the House, have been evident from the moment she took over as speaker. |
| When Representative Rashida Tlaib, the liberal freshman firebrand from Michigan, used an expletive on her first day in office to describe how she wanted to impeach Mr. Trump, Ms. Pelosi pointedly did not criticize her. “I’m not in the censorship business,” she insisted. | When Representative Rashida Tlaib, the liberal freshman firebrand from Michigan, used an expletive on her first day in office to describe how she wanted to impeach Mr. Trump, Ms. Pelosi pointedly did not criticize her. “I’m not in the censorship business,” she insisted. |
| But Ms. Pelosi also made very clear that House Democrats had no intention of doing any such thing, even as she instructed her top lieutenants to investigate Mr. Trump on numerous fronts, like his communications with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and whether he had violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause by profiting from his real estate business as president. | But Ms. Pelosi also made very clear that House Democrats had no intention of doing any such thing, even as she instructed her top lieutenants to investigate Mr. Trump on numerous fronts, like his communications with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and whether he had violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause by profiting from his real estate business as president. |
| When Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, released his report documenting Russian interference in the 2016 election and at least 10 instances of possible obstruction of justice by Mr. Trump, a new wave of Democrats began pushing to open an inquiry. In private caucus conference calls and one-on-one meetings in her suite just off the Capitol Rotunda, she heard every one of them out — and patiently pushed back. | When Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, released his report documenting Russian interference in the 2016 election and at least 10 instances of possible obstruction of justice by Mr. Trump, a new wave of Democrats began pushing to open an inquiry. In private caucus conference calls and one-on-one meetings in her suite just off the Capitol Rotunda, she heard every one of them out — and patiently pushed back. |
| “I told her that we were struggling to justify why we were not moving forward,” said one of those Democrats, Representative Val B. Demings of Florida, recounting her own effort to get Ms. Pelosi to change her mind. The speaker, she said, delivered a firm response about “being strategic and arriving to the right place at the right time.” | “I told her that we were struggling to justify why we were not moving forward,” said one of those Democrats, Representative Val B. Demings of Florida, recounting her own effort to get Ms. Pelosi to change her mind. The speaker, she said, delivered a firm response about “being strategic and arriving to the right place at the right time.” |
| When news of Mr. Trump’s pressure campaign broke, and Ms. Pelosi decided she could hold off no longer, she involved herself in every aspect of the impeachment inquiry. She met nearly every day — sometimes twice a day — with the leaders of the six committees that were already investigating the president on an array of matters. | When news of Mr. Trump’s pressure campaign broke, and Ms. Pelosi decided she could hold off no longer, she involved herself in every aspect of the impeachment inquiry. She met nearly every day — sometimes twice a day — with the leaders of the six committees that were already investigating the president on an array of matters. |
| She insisted on signing off on which witnesses would testify before the House Intelligence Committee, and she personally approved the wording of news releases, committee reports and some of the high-profile statements her lieutenants would deliver in public. When Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, showed her his opening statement for the panel’s first impeachment hearing, Ms. Pelosi changed a single word — “was” to “is” — arguing the present tense made for a stronger argument. | She insisted on signing off on which witnesses would testify before the House Intelligence Committee, and she personally approved the wording of news releases, committee reports and some of the high-profile statements her lieutenants would deliver in public. When Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, showed her his opening statement for the panel’s first impeachment hearing, Ms. Pelosi changed a single word — “was” to “is” — arguing the present tense made for a stronger argument. |
| Committee leaders, ordinarily insistent on their autonomy, did not to make a single move on impeachment without consulting her. When debate in the House Judiciary Committee on the articles of impeachment dragged late into the night last week, the panel’s chairman, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, checked with Ms. Pelosi before delaying the vote until the next morning. | Committee leaders, ordinarily insistent on their autonomy, did not to make a single move on impeachment without consulting her. When debate in the House Judiciary Committee on the articles of impeachment dragged late into the night last week, the panel’s chairman, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, checked with Ms. Pelosi before delaying the vote until the next morning. |
| And on Tuesday, on the eve of the historic votes on the House floor, the speaker was in her Capitol office late into the night, coordinating which lawmakers would get to speak and for how long. | And on Tuesday, on the eve of the historic votes on the House floor, the speaker was in her Capitol office late into the night, coordinating which lawmakers would get to speak and for how long. |
| Ms. Pelosi reserved the first speaking slot for herself. She took the floor on Wednesday dressed in a dark suit, a nod to what she has long said would be a solemn day, and a carefully chosen accessory: a gold brooch fashioned as the mace of the House of Representatives, also known as the speaker’s mace. | |
| “Our founders’ vision of a republic is under threat from actions from the White House,” she said, adding: “If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty. It is tragic that the president’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary. He gave us no choice.” | |
| After Ms. Pelosi opened the impeachment inquiry in September, Republicans demanded that she hold a formal vote authorizing the inquiry — a vote that would have been deeply uncomfortable for nervous moderates in Trump-friendly districts. She held off and put the spotlight on other issues, like gun violence and legislation to reduce the cost of college. When members took a vote, she told them privately, it was going to mean something. | After Ms. Pelosi opened the impeachment inquiry in September, Republicans demanded that she hold a formal vote authorizing the inquiry — a vote that would have been deeply uncomfortable for nervous moderates in Trump-friendly districts. She held off and put the spotlight on other issues, like gun violence and legislation to reduce the cost of college. When members took a vote, she told them privately, it was going to mean something. |
| Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader, said in an interview this week that Ms. Pelosi’s failure to take that vote was a “fatal flaw” because it allowed Republicans to criticize her on the impeachment process. | Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader, said in an interview this week that Ms. Pelosi’s failure to take that vote was a “fatal flaw” because it allowed Republicans to criticize her on the impeachment process. |
| In the interview, Ms. Pelosi cut off a question about Mr. McCarthy’s criticism as soon as she heard his name. | In the interview, Ms. Pelosi cut off a question about Mr. McCarthy’s criticism as soon as she heard his name. |
| “I don’t care what he has to say,” she said. | “I don’t care what he has to say,” she said. |
| Over the past week, as Ms. Pelosi has rolled out the final stages of the impeachment process, culminating with Wednesday’s vote, she has sequenced each step alongside broadly popular, bipartisan legislative items like a giant defense policy bill, a $1.4 trillion government spending measure, and the ultimate prize for Mr. Trump: a sweeping North American trade agreement known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. | Over the past week, as Ms. Pelosi has rolled out the final stages of the impeachment process, culminating with Wednesday’s vote, she has sequenced each step alongside broadly popular, bipartisan legislative items like a giant defense policy bill, a $1.4 trillion government spending measure, and the ultimate prize for Mr. Trump: a sweeping North American trade agreement known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. |
| The result is that the most politically vulnerable Democrats — moderates who represent districts that Mr. Trump won in 2016 — can point to a list of legislative accomplishments as they leave Washington at year’s end, telling their constituents they did more with their time in Congress than just impeach the president. The strategy is typical of Ms. Pelosi, who excels at determining precisely what will be needed to win over holdouts in her ranks and then delivering it, generating remarkable party unity. | The result is that the most politically vulnerable Democrats — moderates who represent districts that Mr. Trump won in 2016 — can point to a list of legislative accomplishments as they leave Washington at year’s end, telling their constituents they did more with their time in Congress than just impeach the president. The strategy is typical of Ms. Pelosi, who excels at determining precisely what will be needed to win over holdouts in her ranks and then delivering it, generating remarkable party unity. |
| In this case, all but two Democrats have said they plan to support the articles of impeachment. | In this case, all but two Democrats have said they plan to support the articles of impeachment. |
| As the highest ranking woman in Washington and the leader in the House of her party for nearly two decades, Ms. Pelosi, 79, of California, made her mark as a leader with muscle and spine when Mr. Trump was still a reality television host. She says she wants to be remembered not for impeachment, but for her legislative achievements — primarily a meticulous and politically complex push to pass the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s landmark health care law. | As the highest ranking woman in Washington and the leader in the House of her party for nearly two decades, Ms. Pelosi, 79, of California, made her mark as a leader with muscle and spine when Mr. Trump was still a reality television host. She says she wants to be remembered not for impeachment, but for her legislative achievements — primarily a meticulous and politically complex push to pass the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s landmark health care law. |
| But for better or worse, people in both parties say, her legacy is now wrapped up with Mr. Trump’s. | But for better or worse, people in both parties say, her legacy is now wrapped up with Mr. Trump’s. |
| “We don’t get to choose how history remembers us,” said Representative Gerald E. Connolly, Democrat of Virginia, who compared Ms. Pelosi to Diogenes, the Greek philosopher who was said to have wandered Athens with a light, searching for an honest man. “Of course she’s going to be an inspiration because of this. Somebody had to be that person with the light — even if it was a lonely challenge.” | “We don’t get to choose how history remembers us,” said Representative Gerald E. Connolly, Democrat of Virginia, who compared Ms. Pelosi to Diogenes, the Greek philosopher who was said to have wandered Athens with a light, searching for an honest man. “Of course she’s going to be an inspiration because of this. Somebody had to be that person with the light — even if it was a lonely challenge.” |
| But if impeachment has made Ms. Pelosi an inspiration to her fellow Democrats, it has also cemented her status as a villain in the eyes of Republicans. In a long, rambling letter to her on Tuesday, Mr. Trump warned Ms. Pelosi that “history will judge you harshly” — a sentiment Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, echoed in an interview. | But if impeachment has made Ms. Pelosi an inspiration to her fellow Democrats, it has also cemented her status as a villain in the eyes of Republicans. In a long, rambling letter to her on Tuesday, Mr. Trump warned Ms. Pelosi that “history will judge you harshly” — a sentiment Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, echoed in an interview. |
| “This will be a stain on Pelosi’s legacy,” he said. “She’ll be historic in many ways — the first female speaker, and that’s a great accomplishment. But in terms of abusing the power of Congress to settle a personal vendetta, I think that’s playing out before our eyes right now.” | “This will be a stain on Pelosi’s legacy,” he said. “She’ll be historic in many ways — the first female speaker, and that’s a great accomplishment. But in terms of abusing the power of Congress to settle a personal vendetta, I think that’s playing out before our eyes right now.” |
| Over the past year, Ms. Pelosi has routinely gone toe-to-toe directly with Mr. Trump. A photograph of her wearing sunglasses and a swingy rust-colored coat emerging from a White House meeting where she told Mr. Trump not to “characterize the strength that I bring to this meeting” quickly went viral — before she became speaker. | Over the past year, Ms. Pelosi has routinely gone toe-to-toe directly with Mr. Trump. A photograph of her wearing sunglasses and a swingy rust-colored coat emerging from a White House meeting where she told Mr. Trump not to “characterize the strength that I bring to this meeting” quickly went viral — before she became speaker. |
| When Mr. Trump wanted to deliver his State of the Union address during the government shutdown in January, Ms. Pelosi disinvited him, leaving him fuming. When the White House released a photograph of her wagging her finger at the president, and he called her “Nervous Nancy,” progressives lapped it up on Twitter. | When Mr. Trump wanted to deliver his State of the Union address during the government shutdown in January, Ms. Pelosi disinvited him, leaving him fuming. When the White House released a photograph of her wagging her finger at the president, and he called her “Nervous Nancy,” progressives lapped it up on Twitter. |
| Impeachment is, for both Ms. Pelosi and her fellow Democrats, a politically perilous endeavor. In 2010, after Congress approved the Affordable Care Act, a climate bill and a Wall Street bailout aimed at mitigating the Great Recession, Democrats lost their majority and she lost her speakership. | Impeachment is, for both Ms. Pelosi and her fellow Democrats, a politically perilous endeavor. In 2010, after Congress approved the Affordable Care Act, a climate bill and a Wall Street bailout aimed at mitigating the Great Recession, Democrats lost their majority and she lost her speakership. |
| But in the interview, she scoffed at the suggestion that history might repeat itself. | But in the interview, she scoffed at the suggestion that history might repeat itself. |
| “Would I rather be speaker or would I rather 20 million people have health care?” she asked in the interview. | “Would I rather be speaker or would I rather 20 million people have health care?” she asked in the interview. |
| Nor, she says, is she concerned about public support for impeachment or her own approval ratings dropping. | Nor, she says, is she concerned about public support for impeachment or her own approval ratings dropping. |
| “My numbers are better than Trump’s,” she shot back. (In a poll published Tuesday, CNN found that Mr. Trump’s job approval rating was 43 percent, while Ms. Pelosi’s was 39 percent, though the margin of error was 4 percent, which means they are essentially tied.) | “My numbers are better than Trump’s,” she shot back. (In a poll published Tuesday, CNN found that Mr. Trump’s job approval rating was 43 percent, while Ms. Pelosi’s was 39 percent, though the margin of error was 4 percent, which means they are essentially tied.) |
| It is not Ms. Pelosi’s style to twist arms to keep her Democratic members in line, but her subtle tactics should not be mistaken for laissez-faire. She is exacting in her expectations, insists on and richly rewards loyalty, and is known to hold grudges against those who cross her. | It is not Ms. Pelosi’s style to twist arms to keep her Democratic members in line, but her subtle tactics should not be mistaken for laissez-faire. She is exacting in her expectations, insists on and richly rewards loyalty, and is known to hold grudges against those who cross her. |
| She is not “whipping” the impeachment vote — congressional jargon for leaning on members to vote a certain way. She did not have to. | She is not “whipping” the impeachment vote — congressional jargon for leaning on members to vote a certain way. She did not have to. |
| Ms. Pelosi knew she had the votes when she announced the inquiry; she would not have moved forward otherwise. | Ms. Pelosi knew she had the votes when she announced the inquiry; she would not have moved forward otherwise. |
| “She will keep the caucus together, not by twisting arms but by the example that she has set, or words that she has delivered,” Representative Lloyd Doggett, Democrat of Texas, said last week in an interview. “She’s leaving every decision to each of these individuals as she’s making the case in a restrained way that has appealed to some of the members who have very difficult districts.” | “She will keep the caucus together, not by twisting arms but by the example that she has set, or words that she has delivered,” Representative Lloyd Doggett, Democrat of Texas, said last week in an interview. “She’s leaving every decision to each of these individuals as she’s making the case in a restrained way that has appealed to some of the members who have very difficult districts.” |
| In many respects, Ms. Pelosi’s management of the impeachment process recalls the tactics and style she used to push through the Affordable Care Act, and to work her way into the speaker’s office for a second time. Her grasp on the speakership seemed tenuous after the 2018 midterm elections. A number of incoming freshman Democrats, including many moderates, said they would not vote for her. | In many respects, Ms. Pelosi’s management of the impeachment process recalls the tactics and style she used to push through the Affordable Care Act, and to work her way into the speaker’s office for a second time. Her grasp on the speakership seemed tenuous after the 2018 midterm elections. A number of incoming freshman Democrats, including many moderates, said they would not vote for her. |
| “I was one of them; I thought it was time for new leadership,” said one of those freshmen, Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota. “And I’ve got to tell you, thank goodness. Thank goodness that we have Nancy Pelosi speaking for the House of Representatives because I do not think there is a better, more qualified, more principled person for these circumstances.” | “I was one of them; I thought it was time for new leadership,” said one of those freshmen, Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota. “And I’ve got to tell you, thank goodness. Thank goodness that we have Nancy Pelosi speaking for the House of Representatives because I do not think there is a better, more qualified, more principled person for these circumstances.” |
| At the time, Ms. Pelosi promised her fellow Democrats that she would serve no more than four years as speaker. But she is not a woman to box herself in. | At the time, Ms. Pelosi promised her fellow Democrats that she would serve no more than four years as speaker. But she is not a woman to box herself in. |
| In the interview, Ms. Pelosi would not renew that commitment. | In the interview, Ms. Pelosi would not renew that commitment. |
| “I’ll make a judgment as I go along,” she said. “I’m on a mission. I’m not on a timetable.” | “I’ll make a judgment as I go along,” she said. “I’m on a mission. I’m not on a timetable.” |
| Nicholas Fandos contributed reporting. | Nicholas Fandos contributed reporting. |