Patience and Fortitude: The Life And Political Career Of Mayor La Guardia

As WNYC celebrates its centennial this year, All Of It presents a special on the life of one of New York City's most important mayors: Fiorello La Guardia. La Guardia was the first Italian-American Mayor of New York who led the city during the aftermath of the Great Depression, Hitler's rise to power, and World War II. He was a Republican mayor in a liberal city who wasn't afraid of speaking out for what he believed was right. His decisions also have a huge impact on how our city looks and moves today. He unified our subway system, created NYCHA, and also was Mayor during the rise of the controversial figure, his Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. La Guardia also had a significant presence on WNYC airwaves during his tenure. His weekly "Talks to the People" broadcasts averaged 2 million listeners. He spoke directly to New Yorkers about issues that affected them, from the price of groceries, to war defense training, to more light hearted moments like when he read the comics to children during a newspaper strike. Join us for Patience and Fortitude: A History of Mayor La Guardia on WNYC, where we'll dive into the WNYC archives and get to know Mayor La Guardia, his early life, triumphs and faults, along with Terry Golway, author of the book, I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became America’s Mayor, And Why He Still Matters.