Geraldine Ferraro 1935-2011
Geraldine Ferraro, who made history as the first female vice-presidential candidate, has died of multiple myeloma complications at the age of 75.
The former New York State congresswoman had battled blood cancer for 12 years and was surrounded by family at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston when she died on Saturday.
She began her career as a teacher and lawyer before joining the Queens County D.A.’s office in 1974, where she headed the Special Victims Bureau that dealt with sex crimes, child abuse, and domestic violence.
Geraldine served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing New York’s 9th district from 1979-1985. Near the end of that government stint, Walter Mondale tapped her as his Democratic running mate during his 1984 bid for U.S. President against Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
In addition to becoming the first woman to be named to the top ticket, she was also the first Italian-American to achieve such political prominence. During her nomination acceptance speech, she said: “I stand before you to proclaim tonight: America is the land where dreams can come true for all of us.”
Even though the election turned out to be a landslide for Reagan, Ferraro came away having changed American politics. Former NOW head Judy Goldsmith said at the time: “No one asks anymore if women can raise the money, if women can take the heat, if women have the stamina for the toughest political campaigns in this country. Geraldine Ferraro did them all.”
President Bill Clinton named her to the post of U.S. Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights. She served from 1993-1996.
President Obama paid tribute to Ferraro: “Geraldine will forever be remembered as a trailblazer who broke down barriers for women, and Americans of all backgrounds and walks of life.”
Former Vice President Walter Mondale, who served from 1977-1981 under Jimmy Carter, called Ferraro “a remarkable woman and a dear human being. She broke a lot of molds and it’s a better country for what she did.”
She is survived by her husband, businessman and real estate developer John Zaccaro, and their three children, Donna, John Jr., and Laura.
Watch Ferraro’s Democratic Convention acceptance speech on vintage video below:
Photos: WENN