This eight-part series reveals the humanity, the twists of fate and the surprising mistakes behind 16 of the most compelling and tumultuous presidential campaigns in modern history. Revisit the past 50 years of presidential election history to see how previous campaigns are still influencing politics in unexpected ways.

Ferraro/Palin – The Trailblazers
Trace the paths of two women who challenged the notion of what makes a strong vice president: Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 was the first woman on a major party presidential ticket; Sarah Palin added energy and excitement to John McCain’s campaign in 2008.