Pelosi Remarks on the Retirement of Senator Barbara Boxer

Q:  Your reaction to Senator Boxer retiring?

Leader Pelosi.  What?

Q:  She's going to retire, Senator Boxer.

Leader Pelosi.  She called me before I came down here.  It's funny, she called me and she said she wanted to talk to me personally.  I thought maybe she wanted to have dinner tonight or something.  Oh my.  Well, her decision is an important one for her and her family.  It's all personal and individual.  Senator Boxer has been such a champion for the people of California and, indeed, for our entire country.

I have always said of Congresswoman Boxer, Senator Boxer – Congresswoman when I came to Congress – Senator Boxer, that she is – this will sound like an oxymoron to you, but she is one of the most unselfish politicians I have ever known of.  She has always shared her ideas.  She has always shared the credit.  She has always tried to help people succeed with their ideas.  She has reached across the aisle.  She has reached across our state, which is a glorious state.  And her leaving will be a great loss to the Congress of the United States, the people of California, and to our country.

I hope as she goes – I assume that she's not running, but she'll here the next two years – and in the course of that time, there will be real recognition of the difference that she has made for fairness in our economy, protection of our environment, respect for our men and women in uniform.  She's really a great leader for our country – small in size but a giant in terms of her contribution to the country.  I didn't know.  As I said, all I had was a call from her, but I didn't want to keep you waiting.

It's a real loss, I think.  But God bless her, for her decision.  And I wish her and Stewart and their family well.  Thank you.  My granddaughter just took her grandson out for their sixth birthday.  They were born a couple months apart.  So we are very close, from a family standpoint.  Senator Boxer had a shower for my daughter, Christine, five days [before] – that would be six years [ago] – and the next day, her daughter Nicole had the baby, Sawyer.  So they are just very close in age.  And our family celebrations have been together over time, whether it's weddings or babies or whatever.  So, it's a close personal friendship.

Of course, I wish the best for her in that regard personally.  Officially, I think it's a big loss for the country.  But she knows her timetable.  Thank you very much.