Legal Momentum mourns the passing of Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to run for Vice President on a national party ticket.
Ferraro advocated for women's rights throughout her professional career. In the 1970s, she developed and directed one of the nation’s first Special Victims Bureaus in the Queens Country District Attorney's Office, investigating rape, domestic violence, child abuse and other crimes that predominantly affect women and their families. As a Congresswoman from Queens, Ferraro supported public funding for abortion. She fought for the Equal Rights Amendment and the Pension Equity Act.
As the nominee for Vice President in 1984, Ferraro battled sexism in her characteristically calm and collected manner. In the Vice Presidential debate that year, then-Vice President George H.W. Bush insisted on referring to her as "Mrs. Ferraro" rather than "Congresswoman Ferraro." An excerpt from the debate highlights the Vice President's attempt to undermine his opponent and Congresswoman Ferraro's wry response:
Vice President H.W. Bush: "Let me help you with the difference, Mrs. Ferraro, between Iran and the embassy in Lebanon. Iran: we were held by a foreign government. In Lebanon, you had a wanton, terrorist action where the government opposed it."
Moderator: "Congresswoman Ferraro?"
Congresswoman Ferraro: "Let me just say, first of all, that I almost resent Vice President Bush, your patronizing attitude – that you have to 'teach me' about foreign policy!"
Geraldine Ferraro blazed a trail for American women in politics. Her ability to highlight and combat sexism set an example for the female candidates who followed her. She will be sorely missed.
Comments