Geraldine Anne Ferraro (1935–2011) was an attorney, congresswoman, and the first woman to be nominated for vice president by a major U.S. political party. Born to Italian immigrants, in Newburgh, New York, Ferraro grew up modestly. She attended Marymount Manhattan College and later Fordham University School of Law, graduating in 1960 as one of only two women in her class.
Ferraro joined the Queens County District Attorney’s Office in 1974, where she helped establish and lead the Special Victims Bureau. In 1978, she was elected to Congress from New York’s 9th District, where she advocated for women’s equity, pension reform, and social welfare issues. In 1984, presidential nominee Walter Mondale selected her as his running mate, making history as the first woman on a major party’s presidential ticket. Although Mondale-Ferraro did not win the ticket, Ferraro’s nomination marked a turning point for women in American politics.
Ferraro later served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and sought a U.S. Senate seat twice. She remained active in public life until her death in 2011. She is remembered for shattering political barriers and inspiring generations of women to pursue public service.
To learn more about Geraldine A. Ferraro, visit: https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/13081