Official Portrait Of Speaker Nancy Pelosi Unveiled

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi moved one step closer to the end of her tenure with the unveiling of her official portrait.

In her remarks Pelosi recalled, “My members had the courage to elect a woman Speaker. Somewhere in this Congress is a future woman Speaker.”

In a videotaped message, former president Barack Obama said, “I always feel better knowing that Nancy is on the case.”

Obama explained the pivotal role the Speaker played in the passage of his signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act.

He stated, “[Nancy would say], ‘If the gate is closed, we’ll push it open.’ Just about the only thing she wasn’t willing to do was give up.”

Accolades and honors

Former Republican House Speaker John Boehner described Pelosi as “one tough cookie.”

Boehner also paid tribute and offered condolences to the family of the recently deceased artist who painted his portrait and Pelosi’s. Ronald Sherr passed away Dec. 7.

One after another prominent leaders praised Pelosi’s leadership.

“From the start it was obvious, this new member had it all … most importantly, she knew what she was fighting for,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer  shared as he reflected on the first time he met Pelosi.

For over 150 years, portraits of the Speakers of the House have been displayed at the Capitol. Speaker Pelosi becomes the first woman to join that exclusive club.

“From one leader to another, one thing I will forever admire about you is you have always kept your caucus united,” Schumer said. “And yet for all of her successes, I learned that Speaker Pelosi is at her best in the hardest moments. I learned it Jan. 6. As hard as Jan. 6 was, working with Speaker Pelosi to keep Congress in succession was one of my proudest moments.”

Schumer also addressed one of Pelosi’s most difficult moments, the brutal beating of her husband Paul, who she described as my “constant pillar of support.”

Two months ago Pelosi’s husband, Paul, was attacked in the couple’s San Francisco home by a hammer-wielding assailant who said he was looking for the Speaker. David DePape faces a long list of charges. In the weeks following the attack on her husband, Pelosi announced her decision not to seek another leadership position in Washington.

Obama, Schumer and Boehner credited Pelosi with inspiring future generations of women.

According to Schumer, “Nancy has made the world a better place for women and girls all over the world.”

He finished his remarks, saying, “It’s truly an honor of a lifetime to work with you.”