Fiorello LaGuardia: Immigrant Son and Ellis Island Interpreter Who Became America’s Mayor
Apr 4, 2024 ·
41m 1s
Fiorello LaGuardia was one of the twentieth century’s most colorful politicians―a 5’2’’ ball of energy who led New York as major during the Depression and World War Two, charming the...
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Fiorello LaGuardia was one of the twentieth century’s most colorful politicians―a 5’2’’ ball of energy who led New York as major during the Depression and World War Two, charming the media during press conference and fighting the dirty machine politics of the city. He was also quintessentially American: the son of Italian immigrants, who rose in society through sheer will and chutzpah.
La Guardia made an unsuccessful attempt to enlist during the Spanish-American War. Following that, he served in two U.S. consulates in Europe from 1901 to 1906, and later worked as an interpreter at Ellis Island from 1907 to 1910. Strongly disapproving of corrupt Tammany Hall, his charisma and appeal to minority groups led to victories in districts that were traditionally Democratic. From 1923 to 1933, La Guardia gained national prominence in the House of Representatives, aligning himself with reformers and progressives. In the 1933 mayoral race, Franklin Roosevelt saw La Guardia as a potential ally who could collaborate across party lines. From there he took on the New York mayor’s office with gusto.
Today’s guest is Terry Golway, author of “I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became America's Mayor, and Why He Still Matters.”
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La Guardia made an unsuccessful attempt to enlist during the Spanish-American War. Following that, he served in two U.S. consulates in Europe from 1901 to 1906, and later worked as an interpreter at Ellis Island from 1907 to 1910. Strongly disapproving of corrupt Tammany Hall, his charisma and appeal to minority groups led to victories in districts that were traditionally Democratic. From 1923 to 1933, La Guardia gained national prominence in the House of Representatives, aligning himself with reformers and progressives. In the 1933 mayoral race, Franklin Roosevelt saw La Guardia as a potential ally who could collaborate across party lines. From there he took on the New York mayor’s office with gusto.
Today’s guest is Terry Golway, author of “I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became America's Mayor, and Why He Still Matters.”
Comments
Joshua Hoyt
2 weeks ago
I found this episode like eating cotton candy - tasty but lacking in nutrition. It feels like so many significant elements in LaGuardia's essential make up and success were overlooked. He was half Italian, half Jewish; spoke bad Italian and bad Yiddish; was a crusading labor attorney; AND he was raised on a military base in New Mexico! He was elected as a REPUBLICAN at the same time NY was solidly Democrat; and he wa a military brat raised on an army base in N Mexico! In other words he was a whole lot more than a short jolly guy who was a populist and consummate manipulator of the radio. Your guest did not really address the ethnic politics (Jews and Italians vs Irish machine), not the class politics that propelled the outsider into power in the depths of the Great Depression! In fact there was the author's annoyance that he was a bit demogogic and denied being a politician, but little about his actual populist program and accomplishments other than understanding the importance of air travel. Like I said - cotton candy history with little useful information about what shaped LaGuardia, why he was successful when he was successful, and what he actually did. I am sorry to be harsh, but I feel this was an opportunity missed.
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