She remained a durable American heroine,a strong, respected role model for millions of women (and some men).
She lived a moment that changed the country’s image of itself,
and that moment turned her into a strong, if complicated, symbol of change in American politics.
After accepting the nomination to be Vice President of the United States
There was a woman with a walker and she beckoned to me and whispered in my ear:
"I never thought I would live to see this day."
Her acceptance speech launched eight minutes of cheers, foot-stamping and tears.
Ferraro was fun to be with; she wasn’t a scold or a downer, which unfortunately was how many men in charge in those days thought of other women leaders.
"She manages to be threatening on issues without being threatening personally"
Her stubbornness must have resonated in particular with women, many of whom, to this day, know how it feels to hide their intelligence or mute their opinions or avoid confrontation rather than appear challenging to male power. Ms. Ferraro could effectively charm powerful men, but she did not back down on substance.
Her stubbornness must have resonated in particular with women, many of whom, to this day, know how it feels to hide their intelligence or mute their opinions or avoid confrontation rather than appear challenging to male power. Ms. Ferraro could effectively charm powerful men, but she did not back down on substance.
The nomination of Ms. Ferraro was proof that as hidebound, stubborn and rigid as our country can be, it also has the capacity periodically to remake itself. For millions of women, the Ferraro nomination was validation, as meaningful to them as President Obama’s election was to African-Americans and John F. Kennedy’s election was to Roman Catholics. Because of her nomination, Geraldine Ferraro became a transforming figure in the country’s history.
Ferraro said she hoped to live long enough "to attend the inauguration of the first woman president of the United States."
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