New Americans -- Army Brat -- The Flying Congressman -- In Defense of Democracy -- At War, Again -- The Anti-Politician Politician -- The Immigrant's Friend -- Ideas Before Party -- Roaring Against the Twenties -- He Doth Protest -- Before He Ran City Hall -- Now We Have a Mayor -- Day in the Life of the Mayor (His First) -- Taking Command -- Model Homes -- The City Takes Flight -- Working for Justice -- Comic Relief -- Foiling Henry Ford -- Mediating Civil Rights -- The Refugees' Friend -- Final Days.
Summary:
"A hugely entertaining celebration of one of America's greatest politicians--a source of inspiration for our equally challenging times....Fiorello La Guardia was one of the twentieth century's most colorful politicians--on the New York and national stage. He was also quintessentially American: the son of Italian immigrants, who rose in society through sheer will and chutzpah. Almost one hundred years later, America is once again grappling with issues that would have been familiar to the Little Flower, as he was affectionately known. It's time to bring back La Guardia, argues historian and journalist Terry Golway, to remind us all what an effective municipal officer (as he preferred to call himself) can achieve....Golway examines La Guardia's extraordinary career through four essential qualities: As a patriot, a dissenter, a leader, and a statesman. He needed them all when he stood against the nativism, religious and racial bigotry, and reactionary economic policies of the 1920s, and again when he faced the realities of Depression-era New York and the rise of fascism at home and abroad in the 1930s. Just before World War II, the Roosevelt administration formally apologized to the Nazis when La Guardia referred to Hitler as a "brown-shirted fanatic." There was nobody quite like Fiorello La Guardia. In this immensely readable book, as entertaining as the man himself, Terry Golway captures the enduring appeal of one of America's greatest leaders"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.