Nancy Pelosi: House speaker through the years (50 images)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced that she will not seek a leadership position for House Democrats when they lose power on January 3. Pelosi, who will keep her House seat representing San Francisco, has served in the House since 1987 and made history as the first female speaker in 2007. Here is a look back at her time as House sspeaker.

Pelosi greets the Dalai Lama during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in the Dalai Lama's honor on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 17, 2007. Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI

License photo | Permalink

---

---

French President Nicolas Sarkozy shakes hands with Pelosi, while Senate President Robert Byrd watches at the Capitol Building in Washington on November 7, 2007. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

License photo | Permalink

---

---

Pelosi and actor Tom Hanks pose for photographs before a meeting at the Capitol in Washington on March 5, 2008. Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI

License photo | Permalink

---

---

Pelosi and then Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, arrive to make statements after a meeting with the House Democratic Caucus at the Cannon Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 29, 2008. Photo by Patrick D. McDermott/UPI

License photo | Permalink

---

---