Geraldine Ferraro, Candidate for Vice-President on the Democrat ticket twenty-seven years ago, died today at 75.
I must confess an affinity for characters in our history that rise above all odds to become something larger than might have been expected.
Geraldine Ferraro became such a memorable character when, in 1984, she became the first American Woman to become a candidate in the Presidential sweepstakes on a major party ticket. Ms Ferraro became the nominee for the Democrat party for Vice-President while Walter Mondale was the nominee for President. Ms Ferraro, daughter of an Italian immigrant, was also the first Italian-American to be on the national ticket.
Geraldine Ferraro had been an Assistant District Attorney and a Congressman (I know, Congresswoman might be more PC) for New York's 9th Congressional District prior to her run for Vice-President.
Ms Ferraro was a tireless campaigner and a hard working public servant. She was attacked in the press for her husband's financial dealings more than her own record.
Ms Ferraro continued to speak out on topics that interested her. She served in the Clinton Administration as US Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
She was a Democrat, running against the Reagan/Bush ticket for their second term. I probably wouldn't agree with many of her positions but I respected her then and now for her service and her changing of the political landscape as the first woman to be on a major party ticket and the only woman until Sarah Palin to be so honored.
Thank you, Geraldine Ferraro. You have left our political lansdcape better than you found it.
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