Final answer:
Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman to be nominated for vice president by either major party, in 1984, on the Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first woman nominated for vice president by either major party was C. Geraldine Ferraro. She was selected as the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 1984 on the ticket with Walter Mondale. Despite their efforts, they did not win the election against incumbent President Ronald Reagan and his vice president, George H.W. Bush. Geraldine Ferraro's nomination was a significant milestone in American political history as it paved the way for future female candidates to aspire and be considered for the highest levels of political office, culminating in Kamala Harris becoming the first woman to actually hold the office of vice president starting in January 2021.