Pelosi to Kennedy Widow: 'Now Teddy Can Rest'
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. relays the breaking news to her staff that the Supreme Court had just upheld the Affordable Care Act, Thursday, June 28, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Pelosi, the former speaker of the House, was instrumental in helping to pass health care reform in Congress and was at President Obama's side when he signed it into law. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
For Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the Supreme Court's decision provided a vindication and victory for having helped push the health law through - perhaps at the expense of her losing her Speaker's gavel.
Maybe it was the lucky purple pumps she was wearing - the very same shoes she wore on the day the health care law was passed, March 21, 2010.
Pelosi was attending Democratic Whip Meeting in the Capitol Visitor Center when she found out about the decision, according to a narrative obtained from her office. She returned to her office to make phone calls, and left messages for the president and vice president.
Pelosi then called Vicki Kennedy, and was described as telling Mrs. Kennedy: "Now, Teddy can rest."
The House's top Democrat then telephoned her husband Paul. When he picked the phone she said, "Sweetie, we won!" Meanwhile, Pelosi's staff gathered outside her office to congratulate her with several rounds of applause.
Pelosi then went to a hastily-called Democratic Caucus meeting to go over the decision with rank-and-file members. On the way she ran into Rep. George Miller, a fellow California Democrat. The two hugged and Pelosi told him, "What a great victory!'
"You bet your ass [it is]," Miller is quoted a responding.
"I did," she said, both laughing.
Photo: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. watches the breaking news from the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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