She is still one of the most powerful democrats in the house of representatives, even though she is the minority leader. What we have seen is chapter one. Now here is nancy pelosi in january 2007 on the opening day of the 110th congress. Ski could nancy pelosi, representative of california. Speaker nancy pelosi, representative from california. [applause] please take your seats. The house will be in order. Madam speaker, leader hoyer my distinguished colleagues welcome to you all. I would particularly like to welcome our new colleagues. It was an honor and privilege to serve in this great institution. I would like to thank you in advance for the sacrifices and contributions you will make to this body during your time here. Has colleagues we go a huge debt to those who have served before us. I would be remiss if i did not mention the enormous contributions of one of my predecessors, gerald ford. Former president ford served in the house for over 25 years including eight of those years as republican leader from 1965 to 1973. He served his michigan his michigan constituents. Not just here in congress but as president of the United States. The thoughts and prayers in this house and those of a grateful nation are with betty and the ford family. [applause] this is a historic day. In a few minutes i will have the privilege of handing the gavel of the house of representatives to a woman for the first time in American History. [applause] for more than 200 years the leader of our go the leaders of our government have been democratically elected. The leader has always selected a man for the responsibility and honor as speaker of the house. The Founding Fathers it has grown in size and scope far beyond anything they ever could have imagined, much less endorsed and advocated for our future. Dedication that i think the Founding Fathers would be you approvingly. Whether you are a republican democrat today it is a cause for celebration. [applause] today marks the change in the house majority. 12 years ago some of them have stood proudly in the chamber as it handed the gavel to the new republican speaker, Newt Gingrich from georgia. There were disagreements during those 12 years that followed. We are fortunate that the man who was the driving force behind many of those achievements will continue to serve with us. The gentleman from illinois, denny hastert. There were some great achievements during those 12 years that followed. There were also some profound disappointments. If there is one less that stands out from our partys time in the majority, it is this congressional majority is simply a means to an end. The value of the majority is in the chance to use limited power to achieve great things. We refer to the gavel we are holding as the speakers gavel. It really belongs to the American People. Its on loan from real owners. This is the peoples house, this is the peoples congress. Most people dont care who controls it. What they want is a government who is limited, honest accountable, and responsive to their needs. It begins writing itself a ticket to minority status. The 110th congress will write the next chapter in American History. The American People will dictate it. Today the American Party assumes the challenge and opportunity of majority power in peoples house. Republicans will hold the incoming majority of accountable for its promises and actions. We also want to work for the good of the nation we all were elected to serve. [applause] fundamentally democracy is a battle of ideals. It is healthy and important for our nation. It is also a battle that can take place respectfully. Republicans and democrats can disagree without being disagreeable for each other. What people call partisanship is a deep disagreement over a means to a shared goal. We should welcome that conversation, encourage it enjoy it, and be nice about it. It is now my privilege to present the gavel of the United States house of representatives against house of representatives to nancy pelosi of california. [applause] thank you. Thank you colleagues. Thank you leader boehner, mr. Speaker. I expect i accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership not partisanship. And i look forward to working. I look forward to working with you mr. Boehner and republicans in congress for the good of the American People. Im glad someone else has the honor today. In this house we may be different parties but we serve one country. And our pride and prayers are united behind our men and women in uniform. [applause] we are working together to protect the American People. In this congress we must Work Together to build a future worthy of their own sacrifice. This hour we need or pray for the courage and stability of the former member of this house. President ford. Gila the country when it needed healing. This is another trial of american will. Let us honor his memory not just an eulogy, but in dialogue and trust across the aisle. [applause] i want to express our condolences and appreciation to mrs. Ford and the entire ford family for their decades of leadership and service to our country. [applause] with todays convening of the 110th congress we begin a new. I congratulate all members of congress on your election. I especially want to congratulate our new members of congress. Lets hear it for our new members of congress. The genius was that every two years, new members would bring the spirit of her new and hope for the American People. Let us acknowledge your families who made your support and leadership possible today. Each of the springs congress their shared values and commitment to the constitution, and our personal experience. My path to congress and the speakership began in baltimore, where my father was the mayor. I was raised in a large family that was devoutly catholic, deeply patriotic, very proud of our italianamerican heritage, and staunchly democratic. My parents thomas at that Public Service was an noble calling. I view them as working on the side of the angels. I am so happy my brother who is also mayor of baltimore, is here leading the della sanjiv family from baltimore. [applause] he is sitting right up there with tony bennett. 43 years ago paul pelosi and i were married. We raised our five children in San Francisco where paul was born and raised. I want to thank paul and our five children and our magnificent grandchildren for their love, for their support, and the confidence they gave me to go from the kitchen to the congress. [applause] and i think my constituents in San Francisco. And for the state of california for the privilege of representing them in the congress. St. Francis of a cc is our cities patron saint of asisi is our citys patron saint. Where there is despair, may we bring hope. Is what america is about. It is in that spirit that i serve in the congress of the United States. [applause] and today i think my colleagues. By electing me speaker you have brought us closer to idea all the ideal of equality. This is a historic moment and i think the leader for acknowledging it. It is a historic moment for the congress, a historic moment for the women of america. [applause] it is a moment for which we have waited over 200 years. [applause] never losing faith. We waded through the many years of school of struggle to achieve our rights. Women werent just waiting women were working. Lee worked to redeem the promise of america we worked to redeem the promise of america, that all men and all women are created equal. [applause] for our daughters and granddaughters today we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and granddaughters, now the sky is the limit. Anything is possible for them. The election of 2006 was a call to change, not to change the control of congress but for a new direction for our country. More people are clear about the need of a new direction than the war in iraq. As[applause] the American People rejected openended obligation to a war without end. Shortly president bush will address the nation on the subject of iraq. It is the responsibility of the president to articulate a new plan for iraq that makes it clear to the iraqis that they must defend their own streets and their own security, a plan that promotes stability in the region and a plan that allows us to responsibly redeploy our troops. [applause] let us Work Together to be the congress that rebuilds our military to meet the National Security challenges of the 20 first century. [applause] let us be the congress that strongly honors our responsibility to protect the American People from terrorism. [applause] let us be the congress that never forgets our commitment to our veterans and our first responders, always honoring them as heroes they are. The American People spoke clearly for a new direction here at home. They desire a new vision, a new america. We value a vision of america given by opportunity and strength. So confident for they advancing that they put on the great seal of the United States a new order for the centuries. They spoke of the centuries. They envisioned america as a good and just place. It is a source of opportunity for all. This vision has sustained us for over 200 years. It accounts for what is best in our great nation. Liberty, opportunity, and justice. Now it is our responsibility to carry forth that vision of a new america into the 21st century. A new america that sees of the future and forges 21stcentury solutions through discovery creativity and innovation. Ensuring our National Security. A new america with a vibrant and strengthened middleclass, where college is affordable, health care is accessible, and retirement reliable. [applause] a new america that declares our energy independence, promotes Renewable Energy and combats climate change. [applause] a new america that is strong, secure, and a respected leader amongst the community of nations. And the American People told us they expected us to Work Together for fiscal responsibility with the highest ethical standards and with civility and partisanship. [applause] this 110th congress will commit itself to a higher standard area pay as you go, no new deficit spending. [applause] our new america will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt. In order to achieve a new america for the 21st century we must return this house to the American People. Our first order of business is passing a congressional Ethics Reform in history. [applause] this new congress doesnt have to years or 200 days. Let us join together in the first 100 hours to make of the most open congress in history. This openness requires respec requires respect from every voice. My colleagues elected me to be speaker of the house, the entire house. Respect full of the vision of our founders, the expectation of our people and the great challenges we face, we have an obligation to reach beyond partisanship to work for all americans. [applause] seeking Common Ground for the common good. We have made history, now let us make progress for the American People. May god bless our work and may god bless america. [applause] before we move forward, because there are so many children here and so many asked me if they could touch the gavel, i wanted to invite many of them to come forward and join here. I know my grandchildren will. Lets hear it or the children, we are here are the children. Lets applaud these children again. [applause] for all the children, for these children, our children, and for all of americas children, the house will come to order im order [applause] im now ready to take the oath of office from the dean of the congress of the United States, mr. Dingell, and in acknowledging him, i also want to acknowledge speaker foley who has been with us as well. [applause] the distinguished gentlewoman from california will please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, and that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will faithfully and well discharge the duties of the office upon which you are about to enter, so help you god . I do. [cheers and applause] youre watching American History tv, all weekend, every weekend on cspan3. To join the conversation, like us on facebook at cspan history. The 114th Congress Gavels in this tuesday at noon eastern. Watch live coverage of the house on cspan and the senate live on cspan2, and track the Gopled Congress and have your say as events unfold on the cspan networks, cspan radio. New congress, best access on cspan. The cspan city stewart takes booktv and American History tv on the road, traveling to u. S. Cities to learn about their history and literary life trade this weekend we partnered with Time Warner Cable for a visit to austin, texas. We are in the private suite of linden and Lady Bird Johnson. This is not part of a tour offered to the public. This has never been opened to the public. You are seeing it because of cspans special access. Vips come into this space just as they did in Lyndon Johnsons day. But its not open to our visitors on a daily basis. The remarkable thing about the space is it is a living, breathing artifact. It hasnt changed at all since president johnson died in january of 1973. There is a document in the corner of this room signed by the then archivist of the United States and Lady Bird Johnson telling my predecessors, myself and my successors that nothing in this room can change. We are here at the 100 block of congress avenue in austin. To my left, just down the block is the river, colorado river. This is an important Historic Site in the citys history because this is where waterloo austins predecessor, was. Im standing about the spot where [indiscernible] was