Longtime friend and former U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder remembers Geraldine Ferraro as a woman who did not take “gruff” from anybody.
Ferraro and Schroeder served in Congress when female representatives were scarce, Schroeder, who represented Denver from 1973 to 1997, said Saturday from her Florida home.
Together the two “fought the wars” facing women elected to office and in doing so set a new standard for the roles of women in Congress.
“Early on, women felt so often that they had to take gruff off people, because they felt so lucky to be in their positions,” Schroeder said. “She didn’t do that.”
Schroeder recalled Ferraro’s first vice presidential debate with George H.W. Bush in the 1984 election, during which Schroeder said Bush was condescending and tried to put Ferraro “up on his knee and say, ‘Well, missy.’ “
Ferraro wouldn’t have it.
“I know some people really gasped that she took him on, but a lot of women really said, ‘Good for her,’ ” Schroeder said.
Ferraro and Schroeder made waves in Congress, rallying against being ignored when women’s votes were greatly outnumbered, and, at times, almost silenced.
“We would speak out instead of just folding our hands in our laps and smiling,” Schroeder said. “So many of the old bears didn’t like that.”
The two remained good friends over the years, visiting each other once or twice a year. Schroeder saw Ferraro for the last time in August.
“My guess is that she would want young women to go and run for office — don’t take any gruff,” Schroeder said. “She opened a lot of doors, and let’s hope some women run through.”
Jordan Steffen: 303-945-1794 or jsteffen@denverpost.com
