The Center for American Progress mourns the passing of Geraldine Ferraro, the first female candidate for the office of vice president on a major party national ticket. She was a trailblazer who paved the way for later female national figures such as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sarah Palin, and Nancy Pelosi. Her 1984 campaign, in which she sometimes overshadowed her running mate Walter Mondale, put to rest sexist questions about whether women could raise enough money or endure enough scrutiny to compete on the national stage.
She once said she hoped to live long enough to attend the inauguration of the first female president of the United States. Unfortunately, that day did not arrive soon enough for her. But because of her groundbreaking courage and ambition, it is sure to happen in the not-too-distant future. And for that, we all owe her a debt of gratitude.