In 1984, I was an excited young man for three reasons. One, I was going to graduate high school. Two, the latest Indiana Jones and Star Trek movies were coming out, and I just knew they were both going to rock. Three, I was turning 18, which meant that I would finally get to vote in a real election.

I had been a little put out by the election and administration of Ronald Reagan, especially since he had defeated my fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter four years earlier. When Walter Mondale became the Democratic Party nominee, I was a little wary. However, I was encouraged when Mondale selected Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate. In just a moment, this unassuming former senator and vice president had changed the course of American politics forever.



Ferraro, who at the time was a sitting US Representative, was not seen as a power player in US politics, but her selection brought a vitality to a contest that many viewed as a cakewalk for Reagan. I was especially taken by the fact that she didn't shy away from speaking her mind and was not afraid to push back against critics.

And there were many critics during the fall '84 campaign. Geraldine, who had been raised Catholic, was criticized by Cardinal John O'Conner for insisting that Catholics could be faithful to their church and hold pro-choice views. News reports tended to focus on her fashion choices and feminine qualities more than on her political positions. Barbara Bush, then the Vice President's wife, called her "that four-million-dollar—I can't say it, but it rhymes with 'rich'." Still, Geraldine soldiered on.

When election day came, I went to the booth to cast my vote. The polls were all indicating a landslide, and by early evening they all were shown to be accurate. Mondale/Ferraro had only carried Minnesota and DC. I endured a bit of teasing the next day at the tech school I was attending, mostly because I was virtually alone in my political beliefs. Still, I was proud of myself.

As some have pointed out, Geraldine Ferraro was not the first woman to be nominated to be President or veep. She was the first on the ticket of one of the two major parties, however, and her candidacy was another step forward for women in American politics. It is true that Geraldine owed much to Victoria Woodhull, Margaret Chase Smith, and Shirley Chisolm, but she also paved the way for Pat Schroeder, Carol Moseley Braun, Hillary Clinton, and (yes) Sarah Palin.

After the '84 campaign, Geraldine stayed involved in politics. She made a couple of runs for the US Senate in New York, and served as the US Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights during the Clinton administration. She even served as host of "Crossfire" on CNN during the mid-90s. Her last political headline came as she publicly offered her support to Hillary Clinton in the 2008 campaign. Geraldine Ferraro may not have gotten the keys to the Vice-presidential residence, but her influence will be felt for generations to come.

I have two more items of note before I wrap this up, two items I was not aware of. First, Geraldine Ferraro was responsible for the formation of the Special Victims Bureau in 1975 ("Law and Order" fans rejoice). Second, Geraldine Ferraro was the first, and still remains the only, Italian-American to be on a major American political party presidential ticket. As we wrap up Women's History Month, take a moment and think of the contributions that women like Geraldine Ferraro have made to the political process.

Finally, I leave you this quote from Ms. Ferraro's acceptance speech at the 1984 Democratic convention. I feel as though this is as relevant today as it was 27 years ago.


Happy Sunday,
Clintster

PS: I know it took a while to post today, but the first draft of my post was lost when I had a thunderstorm pass through last night. Ah well. In any case, enjoy this classic performance from Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson: