Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited the University of New Haven for an interview as part of a tour to promote her new book, “The Art of Power: My Story as America’s First Woman Speaker of the House.”
Pelosi was interviewed by Stephanie Simoni, of WFSB (Channel 3), a CBS affiliate, and was accompanied by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who was elected to represent Connecticut’s 3rd district in 1990.
Campus President Jens Fredericksen welcomed the women to the university. During their visit, a brigade of Secret Service agents lined the halls of the Bergami Science Center as she made her way into the Bergami Studio.
Interview topics included Pelosi’s new book and her endorsement of DeLauro who is running for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. DeLauro is a member of the Democratic party and her district includes New Haven. Pelosi also spoke about the upcoming election, Biden’s historic stepping down and the future of the Democratic party.
Pelosi, a long-time friend of Delauro’s, was able to keep her campus visit quiet, but one student, Jason Kull, Charger Bulletin News Multimedia Editor, was in the studio during her interview. Kull was told days before to be at the Bergami Studio to help out with something, but wasn’t informed on the special guest until Pelosi was minutes away from entering the university. His job was to be the liaison for the studio and its equipment as Channel 3 brought their own production team.
“It is interesting to see someone who you only see on TV or in the news in person,” said Kull. “In a way, I think it humanizes these people who we only ever see shielded behind our TV screens, phones and newsprint.”
Kull was able to be present for the full interview which lasted around 30 minutes in the Bergami Studio.
“I think that seeing our lawmakers in person does light a spark within us to go out and vote because we can create a more personal connection with our government and those who work in it,” said Kull.
With the election just around the corner, college students are beginning to register to vote and apply for their mail-in-ballots if they live in a different state than their college. For many of these students, this is their first time voting in a presidential election or even voting at all. Pelosi and DeLauro used their time to visit the university, bridging the gap between young voters and U.S. politicians.
