WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Nancy Pelosi, a California liberal who helped engineer the Democratic takeover of the U.S. Congress from President George W. Bush's Republicans, on Thursday became the first woman elected to lead the U.S. House of Representatives.

On a largely party-line vote, Pelosi, 66, was selected as House speaker, a post that puts her second in the line of succession, behind only the vice president, to the U.S. presidency.

House Republican leader John Boehner, who has had a number of political battles with Pelosi, hailed her ascension, calling it "a new milestone in American history." Said Boehner: "This is important for the Congress, and I congratulate Ms. Pelosi."

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