When you think of the pantheon of exceptional speakers of the House in our nation's history, of course, you start with Nancy Pelosi.
I said previously that she was most likely the greatest in history. Pelosi was not only the first woman and ushered through historic legislation, but she was the very definition of the word leader.
Her moral and ethical values are beyond reproach.Then there’s Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, who served with distinction for 10 years, from 1977 to 1987, the latter being the year I arrived on the Hill.
O’Neill was large in stature and larger than life in person. I recall that you didn’t cross Tip O’Neill. He was a gregarious man, full of life, loved his happy hours, but didn't suffer fools.