Copyright The Boston Herald
Despite all the sickeningly flattering media coverage of Nancy Pelosi’s retirement, one thing is clear: she was no Tip O’Neill. Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, Massachusetts’ own beloved former Democratic House Speaker, was civil. Pelosi is mean-spirited and vindictive. She pushed Joe Biden out of the race and blamed Biden for the Democrats’ election loss. O’Neill was a loyal Democrat but crossed the aisle to work with Republicans like Ronald Reagan. He put aside his political differences to get things done. Pelosi ripped up a copy of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech from the House rostrum, in full view of the cameras, calling it a “manifesto of mistruths.”. O’Neill could separate politics from personal relations. Pelosi is incapable of that. She said “30 percent of Republican” voters would never support Democrats because they were racist or sexist or homophobic. Pelosi enriched herself to become a multi-millionaire many times over while in office. Her and her husband’s net worth are reported to be $230 million. O’Neill did not become rich in his public job, living off his pension and a best-selling autobiography and a few TV commercials after quitting. The 85-year-old Pelosi clung to her job in the House well past her time. O’Neill retired quietly to Cambridge in 1987 at the age of 74, saying it was “time to get out.” He died seven years later. Massachusetts officials ended up naming the Big Dig tunnel going under downtown Boston for O’Neill because he brought home the bacon. Pelosi is regal and completely out of touch with average Americans. O’Neill was an everyman, never forgetting his middle-class roots. He was an old school Massachusetts pol, cut from the same cloth as his pal U.S. Rep. Joe Moakley. O’Neill coined the memorable phrase, “All politics is local.” Pelosi often snapped at reporters, barking “Shut up” to one journalist. Another time she shouted to a reporter, “Am I speaking English to you?” Pelosi is now getting accolades for her career as speaker, with the mainstream media like AP writing farewell kisses with lines like this: “Pelosi remains a political powerhouse and played a pivotal role with California’s redistricting effort, Prop 50, and the party’s comeback in this month’s election. She maintains a robust schedule of public events and party fundraising, and her announced departure touches off a succession battle back home and leaves open questions about who will fill her behind-the-scenes leadership role at the Capitol.” The Pelosi tribute continued, “Last year, she experienced a fall resulting in a hip fracture during a whirlwind congressional visit to allies in Europe, but even still it showcased her grit: It was revealed she was rushed to a military hospital for surgery — after the group photo, in which she’s seen smiling, poised on her trademark stiletto heels.” This is the AP, which is supposed to be non-partisan? U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, who used to work for Moakley of South Boston, called Pelosi the “most consequential speaker in American history,” apparently forgetting about his beloved homestate brethren, Tip. O’Neill did get into political spats with Republicans, including Reagan, but was always willing to sit down and talk after 6 p.m., sometimes with a drink. The two powerhouses were political opposites but became friends and cut deals. After Reagan’s assassination attempt, O’Neill was one of the first people to visit the wounded president in the hospital, according to former Reagan aide Max Friedersdorf. “The president still seemed groggy…with lots of tubes and needles running in and out of his body,” according to Friedersdorf. “But when he saw Tip he lit up and gave the speaker a big smile, and said, ‘Thanks for coming, Tip.’ Then holding one of the president’s hands, the speaker got down on his knees and said he would like to offer a prayer…then O’Neill kissed Reagan on the forehead.” It’s hard to imagine a similar scene in today’s toxic Washington environment in which Pelosi lives. The most “consequential speaker in American history?” What a joke.
