Nancy Pelosi and Mike Pence embraced at a Yale gathering in Washington DC, where the former political rivals were presented with inaugural public service awards for putting country before party.
The embrace lasted about 20 seconds, with the former vice-president and former House Speaker holding hands and leaning in to whisper before receiving their honours at the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute’s CEO Caucus.
Pelosi arrived more than halfway through the event and moved through the room greeting familiar faces before taking the seat beside Pence. The pair had previously sat together behind Donald Trump during his 2020 State of the Union address, when Pelosi tore up the president’s speech as Pence watched.
The occasion brought together two figures associated with sharply different sides of American politics. Pelosi, who is completing her final term after almost four decades representing San Francisco, was recognised for legislative leadership. Pence was honoured for executive leadership after resisting Donald Trump’s demand that he overturn the certified result of the 2020 election on January 6, 2021.
Yale awards honour service over party
The awards were created to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a Yale School of Management professor and senior associate dean who hosts the twice-yearly CEO Caucus, said they were intended to honour Americans from both parties who had served with integrity, civility and devotion to country above party.
Former Democratic House majority leader Dick Gephardt presented Pence’s award, praising him for putting “country over party, and more importantly, country over self”. He told attendees: “Mike Pence is a patriot. He has good character. He did the right thing. He stood for the Constitution, he stood for the laws of this country, and he saved this democracy.”
Carla Hills, a Republican former US trade representative and housing secretary, spoke in support of Pelosi. She described her as a model of government leadership who put “policy over politics” and “policy over her own needs for reelection”.
Janet Yellen, the former chair of the Federal Reserve and Treasury secretary, sent a recorded tribute. She praised Pelosi’s ability to assess apparently impossible political situations, identify what could be achieved and then deliver it, saying her political skill was rooted in “a very clear sense of purpose and a strong moral compass”.
Sonnenfeld said the embrace had been “shocking, historic and emotional to all”. He described Pelosi and Pence as long-standing political opponents and “titans of their respective political parties”, adding that he hoped the moment would offer business leaders a way to navigate the anxieties caused by a divided nation.
The presentation formed the emotional centre of a gathering otherwise dominated by concerns including the war in Iran, Trump’s planned visit to China and the effect of artificial intelligence on jobs and markets. Pelosi and Pence also exchanged jokes during the event, in keeping with Sonnenfeld’s informal style as host.
Jay Timmons, president and chief executive of the National Association of Manufacturers, said manufacturers were facing “enormous uncertainty”, much of it brought about by populism and extreme partisanship. He called the joint tribute a “vivid reminder that our nation is at its best when our leaders work together to advance America’s highest ideals”.
Robert Hormats, a former senior State Department economic official, described the pair as “HEROES WHO SAVED OUR DEMOCRACY THAT DAY” and called the occasion “A TRULY MEMORABLE DAY.”
