Geraldine Ann Ferraro earned a place in history as the first woman vice-presidential candidate on a national party ticket.

Ms. Ferraro was first elected to Congress from New York's Ninth Congressional District in Queens in 1978 and served three terms in the House of Representatives. During her six years in Congress, she compiled a liberal voting record in Congress, but stayed in touch with conservative voters in her district.

In Congress, Ferraro spearheaded efforts to achieve passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

She was appointed by President Clinton to lead the United States delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. She served as a public delegate in February 1993 and was also the alternate United States delegate to the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna in June 1993.

An active participant in the nation's foreign policy debate, she serves as a Board member of the National Democratic Institute of International Affairs and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

In addition to numerous articles, Ms. Ferraro has written two books: "Ferraro: My Story," which recounts the '84 campaign, and "Geraldine Ferraro: Changing History."