Geraldine Ferraro And Her 'Moment In History'

GERALDINE FERRARO: My fellow citizens, I proudly accept your nomination for vice president of the United States.

(SOUNDBITE OF APPLAUSE)

LIANE HANSEN, Host:

NPR's Cokie Roberts was there and she joins us with a few memories of Geraldine Ferraro, who died yesterday at 75. Good morning, Cokie.

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COKIE ROBERTS: Hello, Liane.

HANSEN: You were at the Democratic convention in 1984 when Ferraro was named Walter Mondale's running mate. Remind us of the atmosphere at that convention.

ROBERTS: And I do confess that I went over to a colleague from ABC who was covering the campaign and squeezed her hand. We had been college dorm mates and even though we were covering it and dispassionate on air, it was a moment - it was a moment in women's history.

HANSEN: Now, why was Geraldine Ferraro chosen as the running mate. What did she bring to the ticket? Was she a standout in Congress?

ROBERTS: Even though the women's vote had been growing and growing and the Democrats had been paying attention to it, the day after the election in 1984, when the Mondale-Ferraro ticket lost 49 states, everybody went back to worrying about the white male vote.

HANSEN: What was Geraldine Ferraro's career like after that loss?

ROBERTS: But she continued on as a political commentator and, as I say, a great fighter for women in politics.

HANSEN: NPR's Cokie Roberts. Thank you very much.

ROBERTS: Thank you, Liane. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.