Geraldine Anne Ferraro American lawyer, politician Date of Birth: 26.08.1935 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. College and Legal Career
3. Political Involvement
4. Vice-Presidential Candidacy
5. Later Career
6. Death and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Geraldine Anne Ferraro was born on August 26, 1935, in Newburgh, New York, to Italian immigrants. She moved to the South Bronx after her father's sudden death when she was eight years old. Despite financial struggles, Ferraro pursued her education, attending a parochial school and later the Marymount Academy, a Catholic boarding school.

College and Legal Career

Ferraro enrolled at Marymount Manhattan College with a scholarship and earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1956. She became the first woman in her family to receive a college degree. She worked as a teacher before attending Fordham University School of Law, becoming one of only two women in her graduating class in 1960.

In 1961, Ferraro passed the New York State bar exam and began practicing law part-time at her husband's firm. She gradually built her legal career, focusing on women's issues.

Political Involvement

Ferraro became involved in local Democratic politics and worked in the Queens District Attorney's Office, where she led a special unit on sexual and domestic violence. In 1978, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and quickly rose through the party ranks, advocating for equal pay and pensions for women.

Vice-Presidential Candidacy

In 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale selected Ferraro as his running mate, making her the first woman to be nominated for vice president by a major political party. Although they lost the election to Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, Ferraro's nomination was a significant milestone.

Later Career

After her vice-presidential run, Ferraro ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1992 and 1998. She served as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights from 1993 to 1996. In addition to her political career, Ferraro was a journalist, author, and entrepreneur.

Death and Legacy

Geraldine Ferraro passed away on March 26, 2011, at the age of 75, after a 12-year battle with multiple myeloma. She is remembered as a trailblazing politician and advocate for women's rights.