I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became America’s Mayor, and Why He Still Matters

Fiorello Henry La Guardia (1882-1947) was “one of those rare political figures whose reputation and legacy have stood the test of time,” according to this admiring biography from historian Golway (Machine Made). Born to Italian immigrants in New York City’s Greenwich Village, La Guardia found early work as a clerk at the U.S. consulate in Budapest assisting thousands of Eastern European immigrants leaving for America. After returning to New York, he became a translator on Ellis Island and graduated from law school. Elected the first Italian American representative to Congress in 1918, La Guardia interrupted his first term to enlist as a pilot in WWI. Following the war, he jumped back into New York City politics and eventually won the 1933 mayoral election. Inheriting a “mismanaged city on the verge of bankruptcy,” La Guardia utilized federal New Deal funds to get the city back on its feet with public works project such as the New York Housing Authority, which built more than a dozen public housing developments. Throughout, Golway presents La Guardia as a model for today, highlighting his cross-aisle politicking (he was a Republican who supported the New Deal) and his willingness to dissent from prevailing wisdom (he was pro-immigration at a time when it was unpopular). This will intrigue readers concerned with America’s current political polarization and government gridlock. (Feb.)