Pelosi formally receives the Speaker’s gavel, becoming the first woman to preside as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
On January 4, 2007, one day after her formal election, Nancy Pelosi ceremonially received the Speaker’s gavel on the House floor as the first woman to preside as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. The televised proceedings of the opening of the 110th Congress showcased Pelosi in the Speaker’s chair, administering the oath to House members and outlining her priorities.
The handover of the gavel was rich in symbolism. Surrounded by her children and grandchildren, Pelosi framed the moment as a victory not only for herself but for American women and girls, declaring that the House had broken the “marble ceiling.” The visual of a woman holding the gavel in a chamber historically dominated by men resonated widely and was replayed across news outlets, becoming an iconic image of women’s political advancement.
Beyond its symbolism, this event marked the start of Pelosi’s active stewardship of the House agenda. She immediately moved to push an ethics and lobbying reform package and to advance the Democrats’ “First 100 Hours” legislative program. The January 4 ceremony thus simultaneously celebrated a historic first and signaled an assertive approach to governance, reinforcing Pelosi’s reputation as both a barrier‑breaker and a highly effective institutional leader.