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Ferraro: My Story
In this memoir, Geraldine A. Ferraro reflects on her experience as the first and only woman nominated by a major party to run on the presidential ticket. This book reveals the process that led to her nomination as the 1984 Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate and gives a revealing behind-the-scenes look at campaign politics, especially the ruthless criticism directed at her and her family. Ferraro brings to life the dynamics of the women in Congress and how the different life experiences that they bring to the table affect the policy making process. She also gives a real understanding of the pioneering women, including Bella Abzug, Gloria Steinem, Millie Jeffrey and many others who worked together to make sure that a women was on the Democratic ticket in 1984.
Ferraro's run for vice-president was an important moment in American history. The time is right for telling a new generation this story of women's collective political power and the difference women office holders can and do make to public policy.
Ferraro's run for vice-president was an important moment in American history. The time is right for telling a new generation this story of women's collective political power and the difference women office holders can and do make to public policy.
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
113 people want to read
About the author
Geraldine Ferraro
8 books1 followerGeraldine Anne Ferraro was an attorney and a Democratic politician and a former member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first female Vice-Presidential candidate representing a major American political party.
Ferraro grew up in New York and became a teacher and lawyer. In 1974 she joined the Queens County District Attorney's Office, where she headed the new Special Victims Bureau that dealt with sex crimes, child abuse, and domestic violence. She was elected to Congress in 1978, where she rose rapidly in the party hierarchy while focusing on legislation to bring equity for women in the areas of wages, pensions, and retirement plans. In 1984, former Vice President and Presidential candidate Walter Mondale selected Ferraro to be his running mate in the upcoming election. In doing so she also became the only Italian American to be a major-party national nominee. The positive polling Mondale received when she joined him did not last until November, and they were defeated in an electoral landslide by incumbent President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush.
She ran two campaigns for a seat in the United States Senate in 1992 and 1998, but twice lost the nomination of her party in the primaries. She served as a United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights from 1993 until 1996 in the Presidential administration of Bill Clinton. She has also continued her career as a journalist, author, and businesswoman, and served in the 2008 presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Ferraro grew up in New York and became a teacher and lawyer. In 1974 she joined the Queens County District Attorney's Office, where she headed the new Special Victims Bureau that dealt with sex crimes, child abuse, and domestic violence. She was elected to Congress in 1978, where she rose rapidly in the party hierarchy while focusing on legislation to bring equity for women in the areas of wages, pensions, and retirement plans. In 1984, former Vice President and Presidential candidate Walter Mondale selected Ferraro to be his running mate in the upcoming election. In doing so she also became the only Italian American to be a major-party national nominee. The positive polling Mondale received when she joined him did not last until November, and they were defeated in an electoral landslide by incumbent President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush.
She ran two campaigns for a seat in the United States Senate in 1992 and 1998, but twice lost the nomination of her party in the primaries. She served as a United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights from 1993 until 1996 in the Presidential administration of Bill Clinton. She has also continued her career as a journalist, author, and businesswoman, and served in the 2008 presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
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February 1, 2023
A brief look at the history of American Presidents and Vice Presidents will show you that the Mondale-Ferraro ticket did not win in 1984, and that the Reagan-Bush ticket won a second term. The Democratic ticket only won Michigan's electoral votes. The 1984 Republican ticket's electoral college tally is still a record which is yet to be matched or broken (at least within the past forty years). Other Millennials may or may not know that Ferraro was the first woman to ever become a vice-presidential candidate (Sarah Palin in 2008 was a first, but for only the Republican party).
Despite the defeat, when I found this autobiography by Geraldine Ferraro, I was quite looking forward to reading it. Thanks to YouTube, I also watched the first Mondale/Reagan presidential debate, as well as the Bush/Ferraro vice presidential one. It is an (albeit odd) interest of mine to, at times, look into other parts of political history and see what I think about the issues and the candidates of the time. I was not even thought off in 1984, and was just starting life by the time Reagan was about to leave office; but honestly, while I did not appreciate how Bush patronized Ferraro in the VP debate, I see how they won. I may have found myself rooting for Ferraro, though. It's a definite possibility. As far as Mondale, that remains to be seen; it has nothing to do with this review. Suffice it to say that I have Mondale's memoir as well, and will hopefully read it soon.
I did feel for Ferraro as she recalled one of the first meetings with Mondale's campaign staff. They had come in with two charts with schedules for her and Mondale, and they weren't even planning on consulting with her about hers. They wanted her in California before she had her staff put together, and she eventually argued that they wouldn't have done it had she been a man. While I am a man, I have had similar things happen to me. Not that I've been a candidate; how could I? I have, however, been in situations where things would've gone differently were I a heterosexual. Bit different, I'll acknowledge, but I still could relate and empathize.
Reading Ferraro's account of her meeting with Jesse Jackson and his supporters, I can definitely see how he and they never really got anywhere. Ferraro was trying to work with Jackson's team to bring them on board, and even pointed out that their desire for a black female in the Mondale-Ferraro campaign was a reality because Ferraro had indeed chosen one. This did not please them because it was not one of them. Their desire was obviously not one of racial equality, then. They only cared about their own advancement in politics and the public eye. Had Jackson and his main circle actually been trying for racial equality in politics, and not merely for their own personal gain, maybe he'd have been the first black president instead of Barrack Obama. *shrugs* Who knows?
I found myself disagreeing with her (Ferraro) when she recalled how she'd spoken at a voter-registration rally on in Long Island. She spoke of her daughter Laura's eighteenth birthday and how she gave Laura two gifts. A walkman and a voter registration form. Laura couldn't have the walkman if she didn't sign the voter registration form. Um. I'm all for a citizen's right to vote, but to threaten the confiscation of a birthday present if someone doesn't register to vote is just ridiculous. Encouraging your child to vote is a good thing, but you shouldn't force anyone to do anything. To add insult to injury, Ferraro states that telling her daughter she couldn't have the walkman if she didn't sign the form was doing what any fair, reasonable mother would do. Eh. I'll be a father someday and this is not something i would do on my child's eighteenth birthday. I'd go the route of encouragement. I don't believe in force.
On page 208, I was a bit shocked to read that Geraldine Ferraro was incensed by a sign that was waved by a man in Ohio that read "Gerry is bisexual." She states how it went too far and that it was libelous. As a gay man, I do not see the horror of this accusation. On occasion, people have told me that it's like I'm waving a sign that says I'm gay. On others, I've been told they were surprised to find out that I am indeed bi; they thought I was straight. I have never been offended when someone accuses me of or assumes that I am straight. There are far worse accusations that could be thrown at a person, and the fact that she was upset because of this actually disappoints me. Honestly, who cares? I know she was Catholic in life, but that's no excuse, really. Had the sign said she was a terrorist, a murderer, or a rapist, I could see the problem. This came out of the autobiography of a Democrat to boot.
On page 211, which is the start of chapter thirteen, Ferraro talks of separation of church and state; something that has been a matter of debate for decades. She states that the separation of church and state is one of the founding principles of the United States constitution. I know it's already been said, but actually, the constitution says that there is freedom of and freedom from religion. 'Separation of church and state' was a line that one of the founding fathers put in a letter to a Baptist minister. That line is not found anywhere else except perhaps in the scripts of the televised liberal media.
Also on page 211, Ferraro claims that religious freedom was celebrated until 1984. She does mention JFK, but leaves out how in the state of Wisconsin, supporters of JFK' s opponent, Richard Nixon, were going around saying that if JFK got elected, everyone would be forced to be Catholic. Maybe she didn't know this, but still. It was a bit of an odd statement to make when she claims she was the first candidate to be targeted because of her faith.
There were numerous times where my eyes bugged out. First, when Ferraro wrote in about how they didn't have orange juice or a bottle of wine to EAT. Sounds dangerous with the latter (jk). Second, when she mentioned 'Newdsay.' I seriously hope this is a typo, and that it was supposed to say, 'Newsday,' and that it was not a misspelling for what 'Newdsay' sounds like... The last and final example of my eyes bugging out were all the times the word 'abortion' appeared in this book. I'm not really gonna touch that touchy subject, but it was a big unsettling.
After reading this, I sadly can see how the Mondale-Ferraro ticket did not win. It has nothing to do with her gender or religion. At least that has nothing to do with why I may have not voted Democratic in 1984.
This book may have gotten more than three stars had I not read the word 'abortion' so many times.
Despite the defeat, when I found this autobiography by Geraldine Ferraro, I was quite looking forward to reading it. Thanks to YouTube, I also watched the first Mondale/Reagan presidential debate, as well as the Bush/Ferraro vice presidential one. It is an (albeit odd) interest of mine to, at times, look into other parts of political history and see what I think about the issues and the candidates of the time. I was not even thought off in 1984, and was just starting life by the time Reagan was about to leave office; but honestly, while I did not appreciate how Bush patronized Ferraro in the VP debate, I see how they won. I may have found myself rooting for Ferraro, though. It's a definite possibility. As far as Mondale, that remains to be seen; it has nothing to do with this review. Suffice it to say that I have Mondale's memoir as well, and will hopefully read it soon.
I did feel for Ferraro as she recalled one of the first meetings with Mondale's campaign staff. They had come in with two charts with schedules for her and Mondale, and they weren't even planning on consulting with her about hers. They wanted her in California before she had her staff put together, and she eventually argued that they wouldn't have done it had she been a man. While I am a man, I have had similar things happen to me. Not that I've been a candidate; how could I? I have, however, been in situations where things would've gone differently were I a heterosexual. Bit different, I'll acknowledge, but I still could relate and empathize.
Reading Ferraro's account of her meeting with Jesse Jackson and his supporters, I can definitely see how he and they never really got anywhere. Ferraro was trying to work with Jackson's team to bring them on board, and even pointed out that their desire for a black female in the Mondale-Ferraro campaign was a reality because Ferraro had indeed chosen one. This did not please them because it was not one of them. Their desire was obviously not one of racial equality, then. They only cared about their own advancement in politics and the public eye. Had Jackson and his main circle actually been trying for racial equality in politics, and not merely for their own personal gain, maybe he'd have been the first black president instead of Barrack Obama. *shrugs* Who knows?
I found myself disagreeing with her (Ferraro) when she recalled how she'd spoken at a voter-registration rally on in Long Island. She spoke of her daughter Laura's eighteenth birthday and how she gave Laura two gifts. A walkman and a voter registration form. Laura couldn't have the walkman if she didn't sign the voter registration form. Um. I'm all for a citizen's right to vote, but to threaten the confiscation of a birthday present if someone doesn't register to vote is just ridiculous. Encouraging your child to vote is a good thing, but you shouldn't force anyone to do anything. To add insult to injury, Ferraro states that telling her daughter she couldn't have the walkman if she didn't sign the form was doing what any fair, reasonable mother would do. Eh. I'll be a father someday and this is not something i would do on my child's eighteenth birthday. I'd go the route of encouragement. I don't believe in force.
On page 208, I was a bit shocked to read that Geraldine Ferraro was incensed by a sign that was waved by a man in Ohio that read "Gerry is bisexual." She states how it went too far and that it was libelous. As a gay man, I do not see the horror of this accusation. On occasion, people have told me that it's like I'm waving a sign that says I'm gay. On others, I've been told they were surprised to find out that I am indeed bi; they thought I was straight. I have never been offended when someone accuses me of or assumes that I am straight. There are far worse accusations that could be thrown at a person, and the fact that she was upset because of this actually disappoints me. Honestly, who cares? I know she was Catholic in life, but that's no excuse, really. Had the sign said she was a terrorist, a murderer, or a rapist, I could see the problem. This came out of the autobiography of a Democrat to boot.
On page 211, which is the start of chapter thirteen, Ferraro talks of separation of church and state; something that has been a matter of debate for decades. She states that the separation of church and state is one of the founding principles of the United States constitution. I know it's already been said, but actually, the constitution says that there is freedom of and freedom from religion. 'Separation of church and state' was a line that one of the founding fathers put in a letter to a Baptist minister. That line is not found anywhere else except perhaps in the scripts of the televised liberal media.
Also on page 211, Ferraro claims that religious freedom was celebrated until 1984. She does mention JFK, but leaves out how in the state of Wisconsin, supporters of JFK' s opponent, Richard Nixon, were going around saying that if JFK got elected, everyone would be forced to be Catholic. Maybe she didn't know this, but still. It was a bit of an odd statement to make when she claims she was the first candidate to be targeted because of her faith.
There were numerous times where my eyes bugged out. First, when Ferraro wrote in about how they didn't have orange juice or a bottle of wine to EAT. Sounds dangerous with the latter (jk). Second, when she mentioned 'Newdsay.' I seriously hope this is a typo, and that it was supposed to say, 'Newsday,' and that it was not a misspelling for what 'Newdsay' sounds like... The last and final example of my eyes bugging out were all the times the word 'abortion' appeared in this book. I'm not really gonna touch that touchy subject, but it was a big unsettling.
After reading this, I sadly can see how the Mondale-Ferraro ticket did not win. It has nothing to do with her gender or religion. At least that has nothing to do with why I may have not voted Democratic in 1984.
This book may have gotten more than three stars had I not read the word 'abortion' so many times.
June 5, 2011
In 1984, U.S. Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro was the first female to run for a high political office. With Democratic Walter Mondale running for President, if elected, Ferraro would become the first female Vice President of the United States. I remember this monumental historical event, in particular, because I worked for a small law firm next door to Ferraro’s office in Forest Hills, Queens, New York.
Reading Ferraro’s memoir helped me to recall details and gain more insight. I found it humorous in particular wherein Ferraro spoke of how often her New York accent was misunderstood and she would be misquoted. When I first moved to California from New York, it was the first time in my life that I encountered people who truly could not understand me. Ferraro had to learn to articulate and speak slower in order to communicate better. I had to learn to lose most of my accent.
I found out that from reading this book, how Ferraro’s support of pro-choice led to violent and verbal threats and protests from pro-lifers during her campaign. Churches felt that she was going against her Catholic religion and verbally attacked Ferraro.
She mentions how her children got involved in her campaign. She speaks wonderfully of her family.
I do recall that Ferraro was honored for the opportunity to make history in being the first woman to ever run for high office. She never came off as an egotistical person and was always polite and professional. I truly believe as she recalls in her memoir, that regardless of what would happen in the election, she wanted the opportunity to help other women in their advancement for women’s rights and recognition. I remember that it really wasn’t until the late mid to late 1990s that there even were that many female attorneys. It was the courage of a woman like Ferraro who would open the doors of opportunity for other women.
The hardest thing for Ferraro as she recalls in this book is how the media kept attacking her and her family, looking for things to make her and her family look badly to the general public. Today, the media seems to do that all the time to politicians and celebrities. But, in 1984, it was harsh and unexpected. I remember Ferraro was a bit disappointed and hardened after the election. Ferraro died in April 2011, but will always be respected and remembered by me for her strength and courage.
Reading Ferraro’s memoir helped me to recall details and gain more insight. I found it humorous in particular wherein Ferraro spoke of how often her New York accent was misunderstood and she would be misquoted. When I first moved to California from New York, it was the first time in my life that I encountered people who truly could not understand me. Ferraro had to learn to articulate and speak slower in order to communicate better. I had to learn to lose most of my accent.
I found out that from reading this book, how Ferraro’s support of pro-choice led to violent and verbal threats and protests from pro-lifers during her campaign. Churches felt that she was going against her Catholic religion and verbally attacked Ferraro.
She mentions how her children got involved in her campaign. She speaks wonderfully of her family.
I do recall that Ferraro was honored for the opportunity to make history in being the first woman to ever run for high office. She never came off as an egotistical person and was always polite and professional. I truly believe as she recalls in her memoir, that regardless of what would happen in the election, she wanted the opportunity to help other women in their advancement for women’s rights and recognition. I remember that it really wasn’t until the late mid to late 1990s that there even were that many female attorneys. It was the courage of a woman like Ferraro who would open the doors of opportunity for other women.
The hardest thing for Ferraro as she recalls in this book is how the media kept attacking her and her family, looking for things to make her and her family look badly to the general public. Today, the media seems to do that all the time to politicians and celebrities. But, in 1984, it was harsh and unexpected. I remember Ferraro was a bit disappointed and hardened after the election. Ferraro died in April 2011, but will always be respected and remembered by me for her strength and courage.
August 4, 2011
A memoir by Geraldine Ferraro following her campaign for Vice President with Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale in 1984. I purchased and first read this book in the mid 1980s. I recall wondering about the significance she attached to her nomination during the first reading of this book, and had even more doubts this time, for some reason. Perhaps it's more difficult for me to remember the mindset of the Reagan era, though the dirty, character-assassination politics of the Right have continued unabated since 1984 — unless the results of the recent 2006 election indicate a change.
June 13, 2019
My mom was loving Ferraro around this time ...
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April 13, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
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