On July 1, 1984, the National Organization for Women threatened a convention floor fight if the Democrats did not choose a woman, and three days later a delegation of Democratic women went to Minnesota to urge Mr. Mondale to do so. Mr. Mondale made his historic call, asking Ms. Ferraro to be his running mate.
FEMINIST CHRONICLES: The 1984 National NOW Conference, in Miami Beach, FL, urged Presidential candidate Walter Mondale to select a woman as his Vice-Presidential running mate. NOW passed a resolution, authored by Eleanor Smeal, saying if a woman was not on the ticket, NOW would take the nomination to a floor fight at the Democratic convention. (06/30/84)
Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY) became the first woman in American history to be chosen as the nominee for Vice President on a major party ticket after a year-long campaign by women's groups for a woman Vice Presidential candidate. From the start, the Catholic hierarchy denounced her for her pro-choice stance. (07/20/84)
Beth Reinhard @ National Journal: Because of Ferraro, Women Won: “She put the first crack’s in America’s glass ceiling,’’ said Clinton, who in 2008 eloquently described the 18 million ceiling cracks made by the voters who favored her in the Democratic primary. Generations of women can also thank Shirley Chisholm, Margaret Chase Smith, Pat Schroeder — who did indeed cry — Elizabeth Dole, Carol Moseley Braun, and Sarah Palin. Ferraro once said, “Every time a woman runs, women win.’’
The Atlantic: The Inside Story of Ferraro's 84 Debate PrepThe most famous line of the debate, of course, was Geraldine Ferraro's. . ."Let me first of all say that I almost resent, Vice President Bush, your patronizing attitude that you have to teach me about foreign policy."
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"She broke one huge barrier and then went on to break many more. May her example of hard work and dedication to America continue to inspire all women." -- Sarah Palin
“I think Obama was terribly sexist." -- Geraldine Ferraro, 2008
YouTube: Geraldine Ferraro, Rachel Maddow, "sexism" Today Show
Back in October 1984, when her husband was running for reelection as Reagan's vice-president, [Barbara] Bush referred to Geraldine Ferraro, Walter Mondale's running mate on the Democratic[ ticket, as "the four-million dollar -- I can't say it, but it rhymes with 'witch.'" The comment came the day after Bush and Ferraro met for their only debate.
TGW: Geraldine Ferraro, 1st Woman on US Presidential Ticket, Dies
For us, Gerry was above all a friend and companion. From the rough-and-tumble of political campaigns to the important work of international diplomacy, we were honored to have her by our side. She was a tireless voice for human rights and helped lead the American delegation to the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. -- Hillary and Bill Clinton
"We've chosen the path to equality; don't let them turn us around." -- Geraldine Ferraro
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