EXCLUSIVE: Nancy Pelosi is regarded as a 'rich, arrogant limousine liberal' by other Dems and had bitter feud with 'corporate sellout' Bill Clinton that culminated in her refusal to endorse Hillary for president, new book reveals
- Nancy Pelosi is considered a 'rich and arrogant limousine liberal' by her own party, a biography obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com reveals
- Democrats recoiled at the idea of electing Pelosi as House Speaker in 2018 because her $60m wealth made her 'unlikable', writes Molly Ball in Pelosi
- Pelosi, 80, is married to a multimillionaire, who owns a real estate and a venture capital company, and they have homes in San Fran, DC and a Napa vineyard
- Until her life in politics, Pelosi had lived a 'cosseted life', was 'pampered' and had 'elite friends'
- But Pelosi's star rose as she fought for the rights of AIDS patients and it was her tough stance on China that brought her to international attention
- Her feud with the Clintons began when President Bill Clinton went back on his promise to Pelosi to hold China accountable over human rights issues
- The dispute led to a 'longtime rift' between Pelosi and the Clintons, as she viewed Bill as a 'corporate sellout' and she refused to endorse Hillary in 2008
- Pelosi angered the Clintons by saying that if superdelegates of the Democratic party elected Hillary instead of Obama, it would be 'harmful to the party'
- Hillary's camp went 'ballistic' at this but it only steeled Pelosi's resolve to 'hold off the Clinton machine'
Nancy Pelosi is considered a 'rich and arrogant limousine liberal' who is out of touch with regular people - by her own party, a new biography obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com reveals.
Democrats recoiled at the idea of electing Pelosi as House Speaker in 2018 because her wealth made her 'unlikable'.
Pelosi, who is worth around $60 million, was thought of as somebody who 'looks down on the unwashed masses from her San Francisco mansion (or DC penthouse)'.
The 80-year-old faced similar allegations back in the 1980s when she began her career in Congress because her husband Paul is a multimillionaire who owns a real estate and a venture capital company.
The Pelosis also own a vineyard in Napa where they host weekend parties with the likes of former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt.
Pelosi's wealth recently drew some backlash from conservatives after her $24,000 fridge stuffed with luxury ice cream that sells for $12 a pint was featured in an interview with TV host James Corden.
The details are revealed in the new book Pelosi by TIME's national political correspondent Molly Ball, who also reveals the Speaker had a 20-year long feud with the Clintons.
Nancy Pelosi is considered a 'rich and arrogant limousine liberal' who is out of touch with regular people - by her own party, a new biography obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com reveals
Pelosi had a feud with the Clintons after President Bill Clinton went back on his promise to Pelosi to hold China accountable over human rights issues. The dispute led to a 'longtime rift' between Pelosi and the Clintons, as she viewed Bill as a 'corporate sellout' and she refused to endorse Hillary in 2008
The book reveals Democrats recoiled at the idea of electing Pelosi as House Speaker in 2018 because her wealth made her 'unlikable'. Pelosi, who is worth around $60 million, is married to her multimillionaire husband Paul who owns a real estate and a venture capital company
The Pelosis also own a vineyard in Napa where they host weekend parties with the likes of former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt. The property is recorded as being worth between $5 million and $25 million
It began during Bill's presidency when he went back on his promise to Pelosi to hold China accountable over human rights issues.
According to Ball, 'more than betrayed, Pelosi felt humiliation for having trusted him'.
In the book Ball is largely sympathetic to Pelosi and paints her as a feminist pioneer and 'badass'.
The details are revealed in the new book Pelosi by TIME's national political correspondent Molly Ball
As Ball describes it, Pelosi is highly principled and organized, but she makes clear that the Speaker comes from privilege and operates in the same orbit as the Clintons.
Pelosi came to politics relatively late in her life, taking her first public position after raising five children on the San Francisco Library Commission in 1975.
Her family of Italian-Americans from Baltimore had called her the 'princess' of the clan.
Her father was Rep Thomas D'Alesandro Jr, who later became the mayor of Baltimore, a post her brother Thomas D'Alesandro III would also assume.
Once she did enter politics, Pelosi quickly rose through the ranks of the Democratic party in California and in 1987 took over the House seat left by Sala Burton when she died of cancer.
By then, her husband Paul Pelosi had made the family a sizable fortune and tit was his turn to take a back seat to her career, as she had supported him until then.
Ball writes until her life in politics, Pelosi had lived a 'cosseted life' in the wealthy and exclusive Presidio Terrace neighborhood, explaining she was 'pampered' and had 'elite friends'.
Burton's staff, who stayed on in their jobs, did not know what to make of this 'well-dressed middle-aged woman' who always wore Armani suits and seemed 'glamorous and elegant'.
They asked each other: 'Did she have any business being in Congress?'
Pelosi came to politics relatively late in her life, taking her first public position after raising five children on the San Francisco Library Commission in 1975. Pelosi quickly rose through the ranks of the Democratic party in California and in 1987 took over the House seat left by Sala Burton when she died of cancer. Pictured: Pelosi while running for Congress in 1987
Pelosi's star rose as she fought for the rights of AIDS patients but it was her tough stance on China that brought her to international attention. Pelosi became the House Minority Leader and in 2007 became the first woman to become Speaker of the House. Pictured: Pelosi with her grandchildren in 2007
Ball writes their assumptions were 'quickly corrected' and it became apparent that Pelosi wasn't soft, even if she was rich.
The book describes how she invited a farmworker organizer to a lunch hosted by pharma giant Procter & Gamble and let him grill the company's chief executive about their importation of coffee from El Salvador, a controversial issue at the time.
Ball writes it was 'typical Pelosi: ballsy, confrontational, even b***hy'.
The book has eye popping anecdotes about the sexism during Pelosi's early days in Congress when there were just 23 other women in the 435-member House.
The humiliations were 'constant' and Pelosi was often mistaken for Barbara Boxer, who represented a neighboring district to her.
One male colleague joked: 'I'd like to associate with the gentlelady', referring to Pelosi with a double entendre.
Men routinely cheated on their wives with 'brazenness' and one female lobbyist recalled in the mid 1980s being asked to deliver a message to two Senators in a private room at a restaurant.
When she arrived they were having sex with their mistresses right out in the open.
Pelosi's star rose as she fought for the rights of AIDS patients but it was her tough stance on China that brought her to international attention.
It also started her feud with the Clintons when Bill said he would attach human rights provisions to China's trade status to try and force them to clean up their act.
The book describes how she invited a farmworker organizer to a lunch hosted by pharma giant Procter & Gamble and let him grill the company's chief executive about their importation of coffee from El Salvador, a controversial issue at the time. Ball writes it was 'typical Pelosi: ballsy, confrontational, even b***hy'
But soon after, under pressure from business leaders, Clinton did a U-turn and removed any kind of human rights requirements, paving Beijing's entry to the World Trade Organization.
Pelosi accused Clinton of 'coddling dictators', the same charge he had leveled against George H.W. Bush for his approach to Beijing.
The dispute led to a 'longtime rift' between Pelosi and the Clintons, as she viewed Bill as a 'corporate sellout'.
Pelosi became the House Minority Leader and in 2007 became the first woman to become Speaker of the House.
But during the financial crash her privilege became a liability. She was accused of being 'one of the wealthy elites who seemed to be fiddling while America burned'.
Among those she accepted money from was Donald Trump, who wrote her a $20,000 check in 2007 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The future President wrote her a note saying: 'Nancy - you're the best'.
Soon after becoming Speaker, Pelosi was ensnared in a row about the jet provided to her by the government, or as her critics put it, she 'demanded a big fat 200 seater jet' to fly her around.
The row was over the military aircraft that had been provided to the House Speaker's position since 9/11.
The previous speaker of the House, Republican Dennis Hastert, had used the C-20B, a small Gulfstream style 12-seater, to fly home to his district in Illinois.
But during the financial crash her privilege became a liability. She was accused of being 'one of the wealthy elites who seemed to be fiddling while America burned'. Soon after becoming Speaker, Pelosi was ensnared in a row about the jet provided to her by the government, or as her critics put it, she 'demanded a big fat 200 seater jet' to fly her around
Clinton did a U-turn on his agreement with Pelosi and removed any kind of human rights requirements. Pelosi accused Clinton of 'coddling dictators', the same charge he had leveled against George H.W. Bush for his approach to Beijing. The dispute led to a 'longtime rift' between Pelosi and the Clintons, as she viewed Bill as a 'corporate sellout'. Pictured: President Clinton with Pelosi as he signed an executive order that renewed the Most Favored Nation (MFN) status for China in 1993
But because Pelosi lived in California, it would likely have to make a refueling stop, which was not considered to be an option.
As a result Pelosi was accused of using the C-32, the military's version of the Boeing 757, which has 50 business class seats, a full stateroom, private lavatory and entertainment system.
According to Factcheck Pelosi used the smaller C-20B for most flights or the slightly larger C-37A and once flew on the C-32, the larger plane.
Critics went to town on Pelosi and Fox's Sean Hannity said: 'She thinks she's the President!'
Ball writes it was the 'beginning of a cycle that would become familiar and confining' and such attacks made her 'toxic' even to her own party.
In 2008 Pelosi decided not to endorse Hillary Clinton when she ran for the Presidency because she 'admired Obama's political instincts'.
Not only that, 'relations with the Clintons had been chilly dating back to Bill's presidency' due to the fight over China.
Pelosi angered the Clintons by saying that if superdelegates of the Democratic party - establishment officials with a large sway over the primary process - elected Hillary instead of Obama, it would be 'harmful to the Democratic Party'.
Hillary's camp went 'ballistic' at this but it only steeled Pelosi's resolve to 'hold off the Clinton machine'.
By now Pelosi had become a ruthless operator in Congress with years of experience behind her in both opposition and government.
In 2008 Pelosi decided not to endorse Hillary Clinton when she ran for the Presidency because she 'admired Obama's political instincts'. Pelosi angered the Clintons by saying that if superdelegates of the Democratic party - establishment officials with a large sway over the primary process - elected Hillary instead of Obama, it would be 'harmful to the Democratic Party.' Pictured: Pelosi and Obama in 2016
Hillary's camp went 'ballistic' at this but it only steeled Pelosi's resolve to 'hold off the Clinton machine. Pictured: Joe Biden, Pelosi, Hillary and Bill Cinton attending Elijah Cummings Funeral Service on October 25, 2019
Ball says she could be 'hard to work for - not abusive, but demanding' and seemed to survive on a diet of chocolate and a few hours of sleep.
She writes: 'Pelosi had an extreme need for control and a tendency to hold grudges, using her power to settle personal scores if necessary'.
Partisan warfare 'came naturally to her' and she once threatened former Rep Tom Delay: 'Life on this planet as you know it will not be the same if you persist in this notion'.
Hastert said Pelosi was 'so nice to him in person but she'd send him the nastiest, most demanding letters'.
If that made her appear not feminine then so be it, Pelosi apparently thought - she was all about getting things done.
Pelosi's wealth became an issue once again in 2018 when she ran for Speaker for the second time.
After the midterms the Democrats had their most diverse field of Representatives in history including many from the activist wing of the party, most notably Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
For many of them Pelosi was part of the establishment - which meant she was part of the problem.
If they wanted to win they had to change and put somebody more radical in charge, so they tried to mount a coup but failed and she was elected.
Ball puts Pelosi's wealth at $60 million but DailyMail.com estimates it could easily be far more than that and she is among the 20 wealthiest Representatives.
Ball puts Pelosi's wealth at $60 million but DailyMail.com estimates it could easily be far more than that and she is among the 20 wealthiest Representatives. In 2014, Pelosi reported between $43.4 million and $202 million in assets in her financial disclosure forms. Pictured: Pelosi's home in San Francisco, which could be worth up to $25 million
Pelosi's wealth recently drew some backlash from conservatives after her $24,000 fridge stuffed with luxury ice cream that sells for $12 a pint was featured in an interview with TV host James Corden (pictured)
In 2014, Pelosi reported between $43.4 million and $202 million in assets in her financial disclosure forms.
The vineyard she and her husband owned was recorded as being worth between $5 million and $25 million.
They earn between $5,001 and $15,000 from the sale of the grapes and between $15,001 and $50,000 in rent from another property in Napa Valley worth up to $1 million.
They also get up to $50,000 in rent from another townhouse near the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort worth between $1 million and $5 million.
Most of Pelosi's reported assets have been listed as belonging to her husband, who has investments in Apple, Walt Disney Co. and Facebook.
The new biography also delves into the Speaker's working relationship with Trump and reveals her conversation with the President after his election victory in 2016.
Pelosi said of Hillary Clinton's concession speech: 'It must have been very hard for her to do.'
Trump replied, 'It would have been hard for me too!' but sounded 'more gleeful than empathetic'.
Ball writes Pelosi 'almost felt sorry for him and worried about the prospects for collaboration'.
She thought to herself: 'How could you get anything done with someone so divorced from reality?'
Earlier this year she tore up his State of the Union speech in front of the cameras, saying 'almost every page had something in it that was objectionable'
But it was Pelosi who got the upper hand during their early skirmishes and during a meeting on September 6, 2017 when she persuaded Trump to go with the Democratic timetable for raising the debt ceiling.
Ball writes: 'Pelosi and (Senate Minority leader Chuck) Schumer couldn't believe what they were heading. Mr. 'Art of the Deal' himself had completely sold out his supposed allies and given the Democrats everything they asked for'.
Afterwards Pelosi said: 'They capitulated. They took everything we asked for.'
The following day Trump, basked in the press coverage praising him for being bipartisan and called Pelosi to say: 'The press has been incredible!'
Pelosi saw an opening and asked Trump if he would put off deporting DACA deportations, immigrants who came to the US illegally when they were children, by six months.
The President said: 'I'll take care of it' and Tweeted it out right away.
Ball writes that Pelosia used her 'gentle finesse honed by decades of charming arrogant men into unwittingly doing her bidding'.
But it didn't last and relations soon collapsed, reaching a low point when Pelosi voted to impeach Trump.
Earlier this year she tore up his State of the Union speech in front of the cameras, saying 'almost every page had something in it that was objectionable'.
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