Marymount Manhattan Women, Making History in Politics

This past week, Hillary Clinton H’05 made history as the first woman to receive the presidential nomination from a major political party. But, she isn’t the first member of the Marymount Manhattan College community to break a glass ceiling in the presidential arena.

More than 30 years ago, Marymount Manhattan’s own Geraldine Ferraro ’56, H’82 became the first female vice presidential candidate representing a major political party.

She came to MMC the day before the presidential election in 1984, saying “I have come back to Marymount Manhattan for the last stop of this campaign because I wouldn’t be my party’s candidate for vice president if it hadn’t been for the education that I received here….This is where teachers like Sister Colette showed me that it is not only possible but also a duty to live by moral teachings every day of one’s life.” 

Ferraro campaigned fervently for women’s rights. “Let’s be clear about this,” she said, “sexism has no place in American life…. Some people today would make discrimination against women acceptable again. I reject that.”

She also exemplified the spirit of her Marymount Manhattan education with a strong sense of social justice and equality for all. “Racism has no right to a home in our land,” she said. “People say that standing up for poor people is unfashionable. I can’t go along.”

Though her campaign for the White House with Walter Mondale was defeated by Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, Ferraro inspired women to enter the world of politics and public service. That promise came true this week as Hillary Clinton officially accepted the Democratic nomination for president. If elected, Clinton would be the first Marymount Manhattan College honorary degree recipient to hold the highest office in the land.

 

Published: July 27, 2016