Fiorello La Guardia

Fiorello H. La Guardia
La Guardia in 1940
2nd Director General of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
In office April 1, 1946 – December 31, 1946
Preceded by	Herbert H. Lehman
Succeeded by	Office abolished
99th Mayor of New York City[1]
In office January 1, 1934 – January 1, 1946
Preceded by	John P. O'Brien
Succeeded by	William O'Dwyer
5th President of the United States Conference of Mayors
In office 1935–1945
Preceded by	Daniel Hoan
Succeeded by	Edward Joseph Kelly
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1933
Preceded by	Isaac Siegel
Succeeded by	James J. Lanzetta
Constituency	20th district
In office March 4, 1917 – December 31, 1919
Preceded by	Michael F. Farley
Succeeded by	Nathan D. Perlman
Constituency	14th district
10th President of the New York City Board of Aldermen
In office January 1, 1920 – December 31, 1921
Preceded by	Robert L. Moran
Succeeded by	Murray Hulbert
Personal details
Born	Fiorello Enrico Raffaelo La Guardia (1882-12-11)December 11, 1882 New York City, U.S.
Died	September 20, 1947(1947-09-20) (aged 64) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Woodlawn Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Other political affiliations	Roosevelt Progressive (1916) American (1916) Democratic (1918) LaFollette Progressive (1924) Socialist Party of America (1924) Progressive Labor (1926) City Fusion (1933–1941) American Labor (1937–1941) Ind. Progressive (1937) United City (1941)
Spouses	Thea Almerigotti ​ ​ (m. 1919; died 1921)​ Marie Fisher ​ (m. 1929)​
Children	3
Education	Timothy Dwight School
Alma mater	New York University New York University School of Law
Profession	Politician
Signature
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army Air Service
Years of service	1917–1919
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	World War I Italian front

Fiorello Henry La Guardia^[a] (born Fiorello Raffaele Enrico La Guardia;^[b] December 11, 1882 – September 20, 1947) was an American attorney and politician who represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as the 99th mayor of New York City from 1934 to 1946. He was known for his irascible, energetic, and charismatic personality and diminutive, rotund stature.^[c] An ideologically socialist member of the Republican Party, La Guardia was frequently cross-endorsed by parties other than his own, especially parties on the left under New York's electoral fusion laws. A panel of 69 scholars in 1993 ranked him as the best big-city mayor in American history.^[2]

Born to a family of Italian immigrants in New York City, La Guardia quickly became interested in politics at a young age. Before his mayoralty, La Guardia represented Manhattan in the U.S. House of Representatives and later served in the New York City Board of Aldermen. Amidst the Great Depression, La Guardia campaigned on his support for Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal programs and won the 1933 election. As mayor during the Great Depression and World War II, La Guardia unified the city's transit system; expanded construction of public housing, playgrounds, parks, and airports; reorganized the New York Police Department; and implemented federal New Deal programs within the city. He pursued a long series of political reforms, curbing the power of the powerful Irish-controlled Tammany Hall political machine that controlled the Democratic Party in Manhattan. He also re-established merit-based employment and promotion within city administration.^[3]

La Guardia was a highly visible national political figure. His support for the New Deal and relationship with President Roosevelt crossed party lines, brought federal funds to New York City, and cut off patronage to La Guardia's Tammany enemies. La Guardia's WNYC radio program "Talk to the People", which aired from December 1941 until December 1945, expanded his public influence beyond the borders of the city.^[4]

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