Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi is the former Speaker of the House. She is awesome because she was the first woman to ever do it and, with the possible exception of when Hillary Clinton ran for president, she was the closest woman in the history of the United States to becoming president (if George W. Bush and Dick Cheney had dropped dead some morning in 2007). Sadly, she was kicked out by the Republicans, led by a dope named John Boehner. She is currently the House Minority Leader.

In addition to being the first woman, she is also the first person from California, and Italian American to be Speaker of the House.

House of Representitives
Pelosi represents a very safe Democratic district. Today it is California's 12th Congressional District, but in the past it has been the 3rd and 5th. Pelosi took office after winning a special election to take over after the death of the then-incumbent, Sala Burton. In 2001, she became the first woman to be House Minority Whip. When the Democrats took control of the House, she was elected speaker.