An Interview with Ferraro

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Q. One thing you're up against, surely, is the old-fashioned notion that a woman's role is to help the man. Will the stereotype of woman as helpmate complicate your candidacy?

A. Why should it? Walter Mondale sees the vice presidency as he experienced the office himself. He redefined the vice presidency. He had his office in the White House. He was an adviser on every issue that came up. I'm not going to be sitting around knitting—if that's what anybody thinks. The job will not be redefined again because I'm a female. I ain't going to be any helpmate.

Q. Some polls show resistance to your candidacy among Southern White men. How do you intend to deal with that problem?

A. I intend to go down South and spend a lot of time talking to some of the traditional men. I've been down to Birmingham, to Houston, to Oklahoma and North Carolina. After we talked to the Southern chairs [regional party leaders] this week, the only argument among them was where I should go first—not whether I should come. People have been really receptive. In my district I was told I was going to have trouble with Italian men. Now they're my biggest supporters.

Q. Even though women have led other nations, the prospect of a woman President still makes some people—women as well as men—anxious. Why are there concerns?

A. There are, of course, concerns, but that is often because it's not been done before. We had anxieties about Catholics until John F. Kennedy was elected President. There were anxieties about whether a divorced male could deal with the presidency, and Ronald Reagan has dispelled that. We always have anxieties until we do it the first time, and then we usually recognize that those anxieties are baseless. This is a first, and it's bound to create concerns; but we are going to put those concerns to rest quickly.

Q. If your candidacy is successful, there will be the immediate possibility of your being called upon to lead the nation. Are you ready?

A. I think it is an almost awesome responsibility, but it is one I'm capable of handling, or I would have never allowed my name to be considered for this spot. I think I am a person who has good moral background, integrity, intelligence and the capability to make judgments based on facts. I think I am capable of analyzing situations without moving in any sort of precipitous way. Could I lead the country? Yeah. The job of Vice President prepares someone for the job of President. My role as Vice President will help prepare me.

Q. You have two daughters. Does that give this breakthrough special personal significance for you—and for them?

A. Every door I open means that they're not going to be discriminated against, and it's going to be a little bit easier for them.

Q. Beyond the meaning for you personally, does your selection have the potential of producing broader social and cultural change in this country?