Fiorello LaGuardia: Immigrant Son and Ellis Island Interpreter Who Became America’s Mayor

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 4 April 2024

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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.”

Transcript

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0:00.0	Scott here with another episode of the History Unplugged Podcast.
0:07.0	In the 1930s, the two most famous politicians in America were FDR and New York Mayor Fiorello La Gordia and yes he is the namesake of New York's
0:16.1	airport. He was a heavy set five foot to Ball of Energy the son of Italian
0:20.4	immigrants the translator Alice Islands a World War One pilot, and eventually
0:24.5	mayor of New York. He wanted to stop the city's practice of doling out positions
0:28.9	based on patronage and loyalty, like what happened in the Tammany Hall era, and changing it to merit in a scientific system of technocracy, it was all the rage
0:36.7	during the new deal. But he was also at his heart a showman and would sell his policies
0:40.8	using radio and knew how to charm the press at a press conference.
0:44.6	Today, for better or for worse, nearly all politicians in America are made in the image of
0:49.2	LaGuardia.
0:50.2	They pretend to be men and women of the people and outsiders, even politicians today who are blue bloods in a bit in politics for decades,
0:57.0	but however inauthentic and sake it might be for politicians to pretend to be a populist today,
1:02.0	for LaGuardiaia it was authentic.
1:04.4	To delve into LaGuardia's career and see the ripple effect he caused in nearly every
1:08.2	area of American political life as today's guest Terry Galway, author of I Never Did Like Politics,
1:13.4	How Fiorello LaGuardia became America's Mayor and Why He Still Matters.
1:17.0	Hope you enjoy this discussion.
1:18.4	And one more thing before we get started with this episode, a quick break for word from our sponsors.
1:25.0	War has played a key role in the history of the United States, from the nation's founding right down to the present.
1:32.0	Wars made the United States independent, kept it together,
1:35.5	increased its size, and established it as a global superpower.
1:39.1	Hi, I'm James Early, host of the Key Battles of American History Podcast.
	...

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