Alexandra Pelosi talks about her parents’ life in politics

“Pelosi in the House”: Behind Closed Doors

Documentary filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi is the youngest daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. And, finding it surreal to be in front of the camera, she told CBS News’ John Dickerson,

Really? why? “Because I am the person behind the camera.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, you can have a camera,” said Dickerson.

“Thank you. Like a little security blanket!”

“When editing, please try to include things that no one in my family wants me to speak for. No one will hire me to speak for them. Because no one wants to hear what I have to say at the table.”

not exactly.Her family may not want Alexandra to be spokesperson, but that might be why she says teeth A hot topic at the dining table. As she explained, “Every family needs a dark cloud, and that’s me.”

It’s been a dark time.Her father, Paul Pelosi, is recovering Hammer attack by man asking “Where’s Nancy?” This was also the mob chant at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Targeted Nancy Pelosi Above All.

Nancy can be found in “Pelosi in the House,” a documentary made about her by her daughter, which premieres this Tuesday on HBO and HBO Max. This is a completely unauthorized look at the speaker counting votes, dancing with her grandchildren, and talking on the phone all the time.

Alexandra said, “If you want to understand her, you have to look at her work. So I looked at her work. Invited us to all.’ That’s what family time is for us. My kids grew up in the Capitol. This is how you see Path Health Care.

To see the trailer for “Pelosi in the House,” click the video player below.

Alexandra Pelosi has made 15 documentaries to date, but this one is like her first, Journeys with George (2002), with Candidate George W. Bush and other journalists. A behind-the-scenes look at the presidential election based on the time I traveled. (Including Dickerson). Both films are about her two worlds, one of politics and the real world behind it, a schism Pelosi has observed all her life.

She says she began photographing her mother in the 1980s with a small disposable camera. “And it has completely evolved.

“I grew up two feet behind Nancy Pelosi, so I could see how everyone behaved in front of her and everything they said the minute she walked away.”

House Speaker Pelosi’s image is an endless cycle of activity in a political environment that has made her GOP’s enemy #1, and what Pelosi gave during one negotiation, as captured in “Pelosi in the House.” Summed up by supporting characters. What Happens in Negotiations: Near the end, people get tired. And that’s where he is. You can’t get tired. I never have Tired. ”

And even with an interrogative daughter, you obviously can’t stay out of the message.

Alexandra: “I can’t crack you. I know that.”
Nancy: “Well, I’m sensitive.”

Dickerson asked, “Can’t you catch her off guard too?”

“No, you can’t catch her off guard. My life’s work has been trying to catch her off guard. But it doesn’t. She eats nails for breakfast!”

But there are parts of the documentary that catch Mother Pelosi off guard.

Alexandra said, “I showed her the preview. And I said, ‘The movie is already out.’ For example, she was editing a movie that aired two weeks after hers. that’s her. ”

The climax of the movie is January 6, 2021. A few days ago, a severed pig’s head was delivered to my mother’s house. However, the family joined the patriarch on the historic day as usual.

Alexandra was filming as usual.

“My 16-year-old son called me first,” Alexandra said. “He said, ‘What if they storm the Capitol?’ No. She doesn’t pay attention to the wall-climbing jackass.There’s total security here.That’s fine.”

Alexandra kept rolling while her family and members of Congress took refuge in Fort McNair, a US military post. “We were a family, so the security guards took us out. But the staff were all there. All these people didn’t sign up for this, young, optimistic people who want to work in a speaker’s office but have to hide under their desks?

“When we left the building, the staff could see that we had left and they had been left behind.”

Some of Alexandra’s footage was featured by the selection committee on January 6th. Pelosi and other leaders pleaded with the military to end the riots, which they eventually did. But collateral damage remains even after the glass has been swept.

“On January 6th, my 16-year-old son asked me, ‘Why do you all want to kill Mimi?’ We call her Mimi. They saw the Oathkeeper trial Lamppost. They get news alerts about it on their cell phones. I’m trying to reconcile with the fact that it says it’s a mission, and my kids don’t understand why people want to kill her? mosquito?

“I still haven’t been able to give them a good answer to that question.”

The documentary has a recurring character named Paul, Alexandra’s father. “My father is the breakout star of my mother’s life and my movies.” .”

But there is something the documentary does not include. It was Paul’s vicious attack on Pelosi at his home in San Francisco in late October. Police said the attackers were looking for Nancy Pelosi, but found her husband instead and hit him with a hammer.

Dickerson asked, “How is Dad now?”

“He’s getting better every day. Thanks for asking.

“I mean, it’s hard. It’s really hard. I don’t think it’s good for an 82-year-old man to be attacked at home in the middle of the night, no matter what his wife is doing for work.”

How some reacted along with the emotional hurt of the whole family.

“I haven’t slept since the night my father was attacked,” said Alexandra. “There’s only one thing that happened to him. The outside world used it for their own political prey, which is much harder for us to treat as family. I don’t know who you are.” And I don’t care who I vote for. interesting An 82-year-old man was attacked in his home. laughter about it. ”

Congressman Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. “She’s lost her gavel, but she’s found her hammer!”

Alexandra said, “The hardest thing to deal with is how the media landscape speaks to how the event was used for tweets and clicks.

“What does your mother say about it?”

“My mother is leaning towards her faith. She has to believe in America. She has to believe in God. She has to believe in the Democratic Party.”

“she have Believe in the future of America. I don’t! “

Nancy Pelosi will retire when her term as House Speaker ends next month, but will continue in her first role since 1987.

“My mother loves to tell the story of when I first ran for Congress. I was the youngest of five, so I was the only one left at home. , my mother came to me and said, “Mom, you have a chance to run for Congress. Do you think I should? I won’t run without your permission.” I said A teenager who doesn’t want her mother to leave the house? yes, I’ll go! right? fine.

“So 35 years later, we’re sitting in the ICU, and I said to my mom, ‘If I knew what I was signing up for, I wouldn’t have given you permission.’ deaf.

“Now I told her that in ICU. My father says, ‘You can’t say that, it’s not fair. todayIf she comes to you and asks for permission, you will say no. ”

Paul Pelosi made his first public appearance since last week’s attack at the Kennedy Center Honors. he received a standing ovation.

“As I struggle with all this dark stuff, my dad keeps telling me it’s really important to say it was worth it,” Alexandra said. I don’t know.I’m wrestling with whether this was worth it.But my dad says it was worth it.She had to live her dream.He was well worth it. yet I would say it was worth it. ”

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Story produced by Alan Golds. Editor: Ed Givenish.