 As Ferraro was the first woman to run on a major party national ticket in the U.S. , and the first Italian American , her July 19 nomination at the 1984 Democratic National Convention was one of the most emotional moments of that gathering , with female delegates appearing joyous and proud at the historic occasion . In her acceptance speech , Ferraro said , " The daughter of an immigrant from Italy has been chosen to run for vice president in the new land my father came to love . " Convention attendees were in tears during the speech , not just for its significance for women but for all those who had immigrated to America . The speech was listed as number 56 in American Rhetoric 's Top 100 Speeches of the 20th Century . 
