Geraldine Ferraro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geraldine Ferraro
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Ferraro in 1998
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| United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights | |
| In office March 4, 1993 – October 11, 1996 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Armando Valladares |
| Succeeded by | Nancy Rubin |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 9th district |
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| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | James Delaney |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Manton |
| Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1985 |
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| Leader | Tip O'Neill |
| Preceded by | Shirley Chisholm |
| Succeeded by | Mary Oakar |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Geraldine Anne Ferraro
August 26, 1935 Newburgh, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 26, 2011 (aged 75) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
John Zaccaro
(m. 1960) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education |
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| Signature |  |
Geraldine Anne Ferraro (August 26, 1935 – March 26, 2011) was an American politician, diplomat, and lawyer. She made history as the first woman to be a vice presidential candidate for a major political party in the United States.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Geraldine Anne Ferraro was born in Newburgh, New York. Her parents were Italian immigrants. Her mother, Antonetta, was a seamstress, and her father, Dominick, owned two restaurants.
When Geraldine was eight, her father passed away. Her mother lost the family's money, so they had to move to a less wealthy area in the South Bronx. Her mother worked hard in the clothing industry to support them.
Geraldine attended a Catholic school called Mount Saint Mary's. Later, she went to Marymount Academy in Tarrytown, New York, starting in 1947. She was a very good student, joining many clubs and sports. She graduated in 1952.
Ferraro then went to Marymount Manhattan College on a scholarship. She often worked two or three jobs to help pay for her studies. In 1956, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She was the first woman in her family to get a college degree. She also became a licensed school teacher.
Geraldine started teaching elementary school in Astoria, Queens. But she wanted to do more. She decided to go to law school at night while still teaching during the day. She earned her law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1960. She was one of only two women in her graduating class of 179 students. In 1961, she became a lawyer in New York State.
Political Career and Achievements
Ferraro began her career in public service in 1974, working for the Queens County District Attorney. In 1978, she was elected to the United States House of Representatives. She quickly became a leader in her party. She worked on laws to help women get fair wages, pensions, and retirement plans.
Ferraro served in the House of Representatives from 1979 to 1985. In 1984, she made history when she was chosen as the vice presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. She ran alongside presidential candidate Walter Mondale. This made her the first woman to be a vice presidential nominee for a major American political party. She was also the first Italian American to be nominated for such a high national office.
Although Mondale and Ferraro lost the election to Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, her nomination was a huge step forward for women in politics.
After her time in Congress, Ferraro ran for a seat in the United States Senate from New York twice, in 1992 and 1998. She also served as the Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights from 1993 to 1996. This was during the time Bill Clinton was president. She continued to work as a journalist, author, and businesswoman. She also helped with Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2008.
Personal Life
Geraldine Ferraro married John Zaccaro on July 16, 1960. He worked as a realtor and businessman. She decided to keep her birth name professionally to honor her mother, who had supported the family after her father's death.
The couple had three children: Donna (born 1962), John Jr. (born 1964), and Laura (born 1966). They lived in Forest Hills Gardens, Queens, and also had vacation homes.
Awards and Honors
Geraldine Ferraro received many awards and honors throughout her life. In 1994, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
She also received several honorary degrees from different colleges and universities. These included Marymount Manhattan College, New York University Law School, and Case Western Reserve University.
Local organizations in Queens gave her many awards during her time in Congress. In 2007, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sons of Italy Foundation. In 2008, she was the first person to receive the annual Trailblazer Award from the National Conference of Women's Bar Associations.
In 2010, a post office in Long Island City, Queens, was renamed the Geraldine A. Ferraro Post Office in her honor. In 2013, a public school in Ridgewood, Queens, was reopened as the A.C.E. Academy for Scholars on the Geraldine A. Ferraro Campus.
In 2018, she was recognized by the National Women's History Alliance as one of their honorees for Women's History Month in the United States.
Later Life and Death
Ferraro passed away in 2011 from multiple myeloma, a type of cancer. She had been diagnosed with the illness 12 years earlier. She was surrounded by her husband, three children, and eight grandchildren.
President Barack Obama said that Geraldine Ferraro would always be remembered as a "trailblazer" who helped break down barriers for women and all Americans. He noted that his own daughters would grow up in a more equal country because of her work. Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton also praised her as "one of a kind – tough, brilliant, and never afraid to speak her mind."
Ferraro is buried in St. John Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens, which was part of her old congressional district.
Images for kids
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Like many representatives, Ferraro sent regular newsletters to the people she represented.
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A flyer advertised a rally after the convention, where Ferraro introduced Mondale to New York City voters.
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Governor Dukakis with Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro campaigning in the 1984 presidential election.
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Representative Ferraro and Vice President George H. W. Bush at the 1984 vice presidential debate.
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Geraldine Ferraro at the University of Texas at Arlington, September 1984.
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Ferraro at a union hall event in upstate New York in 1992.
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Ferraro during a 1998 campaign appearance in The Bronx.
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Ferraro visiting the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, 2004.
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Ferraro (left) celebrated Women's History Month in 2003, with Senator Hillary Clinton, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and opera singer Denyce Graves.
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See also
In Spanish: Geraldine Ferraro para niños
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
