Who Is Geraldine Ferraro? Age, Biography and Wiki
Geraldine Ferraro was born on August 26, 1935, in Newburgh, New York. As an influential American politician, she made history in 1984 as the first female vice-presidential candidate for a major U.S. political party, running alongside Democratic nominee Walter Mondale. Ferraro's career spanned decades, during which she served in the House of Representatives and was a prominent advocate for women's rights and social justice. Sadly, she passed away on March 26, 2011, but her impact on American politics continues to resonate today.
| Occupation | Autobiographer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 26, 1935 |
| Age | 75 Years |
| Birth Place | Newburgh, New York, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 26 March, 2011 |
| Died Place | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Popularity
Geraldine Ferraro's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Geraldine Ferraro's physical measurements have been less documented, she was noted for her engaging presence and charismatic personality throughout her career. During her active years in politics, she was typically described as a petite woman, which added to her relatability as a public figure.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Geraldine Ferraro was married to John Zaccaro in 1961. Together, they raised three children: Donna, John, and Laura. The family has often been referenced in discussions about Ferraro's life and career, as they were central to her identity as a politician and a mother. Despite her extensive public life, Ferraro maintained a level of privacy regarding her family relationships, resulting in a strong family support system that was often noted as a key to her success.
In 1984, former vice president and presidential candidate Walter Mondale, seen as an underdog, selected Ferraro to be his running mate in the upcoming election. In doing so Ferraro also became the first widely recognized Italian American to be a major-party national nominee.
The positive polling the Mondale-Ferraro ticket received when she joined soon faded, as damaging questions arose about her and her businessman husband's finances and wealth and her congressional disclosure statements.
In the general election, Mondale and Ferraro were defeated in a landslide by incumbent President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of her passing in 2011, Geraldine Ferraro's estimated net worth was around $2 million. This wealth was accrued through her career in politics, various speaking engagements, and written works, including her memoir. While her fortune may not have reached the heights of some modern politicians, her legacy lies in her groundbreaking role in U.S. politics rather than financial gain.
Ferraro ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 9th Congressional District in Queens in 1978, after longtime Democratic incumbent James Delaney announced his retirement.
The location for the television series All in the Family, the district, which stretched from Astoria to Ozone Park, was known for its ethnic composition and conservative views. In a three-candidate primary race for the Democratic nomination, Ferraro faced two better-known rivals, the party organization candidate, City Councilman Thomas J.
Manton and Patrick Deignan. Her main issues were law and order, support for the elderly, and neighborhood preservation. She labeled herself a "'small c' conservative" and emphasized that she was not a bleeding-heart liberal; her campaign slogan was "Finally, A Tough Democrat". Her Italian heritage also appealed to ethnic residents in the district.
She won the three-way primary with 53 percent of the vote, and then captured the general election as well, defeating Republican Alfred A. DelliBovi by a 10-percentage-point margin in a contest in which dealing with crime was the major issue and personal attacks by DelliBovi were frequent.
She had been aided by $130,000 in campaign loans and donations from her own family, including $110,000 in loans from Zaccaro, of which only $4,000 was legal.
The source and nature of these transactions were declared illegal by the Federal Election Commission shortly before the primary, causing Ferraro to pay back the loans in October 1978, via several real estate transactions. In 1979, the campaign and Zaccaro paid $750 in fines for civil violations of election law.
Career, Business and Investments
Ferraro's illustrious political career began in the late 1970s when she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York's 9th congressional district from 1979 to 1985. Following her vice-presidential candidacy, she continued to advocate for women's issues, serving on boards and in various roles that influenced policy and social change. Ferraro also had a career in law, business, and media, which allowed her to advocate for numerous causes post her political career.
Ferraro twice ran campaigns for a seat in the United States Senate from New York, in 1992 and in 1998, both times starting as the front-runner for her party's nomination before losing in the primary election.
She served as the Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights from 1993 until 1996 during the presidential administration of Bill Clinton. She also continued her career as a journalist, author, and businesswoman, and served in the 2008 presidential campaign of Senator Hillary Clinton.
Ferraro died in 2011 from multiple myeloma, 12 years after being diagnosed.
Social Network
Geraldine Ferraro was an active participant in social activism and maintained a public presence through various social channels during her lifetime, especially following her political career. She was known for her engagements on platforms addressing women's rights, political equity, and policy reform. Although social media as we know it today wasn't present during her lifetime, her legacy continues to inspire advocacy groups and political movements dedicated to her causes.
Despite being a newcomer to the House, Ferraro made a vivid impression upon arrival and quickly found prominence. She became a protégé of House Speaker Tip O'Neill, established a rapport with other House Democratic leaders, and rose rapidly in the party hierarchy.
She was elected Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus for 1981–1983 and again for 1983–1985; this entitled her to a seat on the influential Steering and Policy Committee. In 1983, she was named to the powerful House Budget Committee.
She also served on the Public Works and Transportation Committee and the Post Office and Civil Service Committee, both of which allowed Ferraro to push through projects to benefit her district.
In particular, she assisted the successful effort of the Ridgewood and Glendale neighborhoods to get their ZIP codes changed from Brooklyn to their native Queens. Male colleagues viewed her with respect as someone who was tough and ambitious and in turn she was, as The New York Times later wrote, "comfortable with the boys".
Education
Ferraro completed her undergraduate degree at Marymount Manhattan College, followed by a law degree from Fordham University School of Law. Her education laid the groundwork for her future successes in law and politics, equipping her with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of American governance and advocacy.
Ferraro grew up in New York City and worked as a public school teacher before training as a lawyer. She joined the Queens County District Attorney's Office in 1974, heading the new Special Victims Bureau that dealt with sex crimes, child abuse, and domestic violence. In 1978 she was elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives, 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.
