Nancy Pelosi, more than any politician I’ve observed, balanced an idealistic, liberal heart with a cold-hearted, pragmatic brain.

Much will be written about the former House speaker’s historic rise to power, her legislative and political victories, and her fundraising mastery, in the wake of her decision not to seek reelection to San Francisco’s congressional seat .

Pelosi’s achievements would not have been possible without her rare and often underappreciated skill at juggling the aspirations of her liberal constituents and the reality of building a national majority.

For years, Republicans portrayed her as a leftist lunatic, trying to impose “San Francisco values” on the entire nation. Republican House candidates in districts around the country spent millions of dollars on thousan

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