why it couldn't follow that precedent. but the way things look today, it's almost hard to imagine, isn't it? >> yes, it is. you have written about some great house speakers who have served our country. talk for a bit about the nancy pelosi we saw in action this week and nancy pelosi's likely place in american history. >> well, not only of course is the first female speaker but as a speaker who was very strong and consequential serving twice. and i think one thing you can see is exactly what we're seeing right now which is that many of other speakers would have said the articles of impeachment had been passed. it's time to ship them off to the senate. there's every sign that she thinks that it's a moment not only to do that but to use perhaps a delay in sending it or a threat not to send them at all, though i can't imagine that that would happen, in order to get some greater assurances from the senate of the kind of trial that she would like to see.