What History Tells Us About the Rise of Fiorello La Guardia

When Fiorello the Guardia was appointed for the first time for the mayor, “most of the wise political prophets predicted his defeat by the whole Tammany machine”, the lawyer, the humanist and long Nation The correspondent Paul Blanshard wrote in these pages in October 1933. But as the elections approached, “it has become obvious that New York was facing political upheavals.”

The first sign came in the primaries, which warned against “not a revolt but a whirlwind”. A few weeks later, this whirlwind of the era of depression would send the Guardia to Gracie Mansion – just like another type of upheaval can do the same for Zohran Mamdani this fall.

So like now, The nation was enthusiastic about the insurgent candidate, while being aware of the obstacles he was confronted with: there were “still great prejudices in New York against Italian leadership”, warned Blanshard while noting that Baron William Randolph Hearst regularly attacked the “little red flower of communism”. What if it is elected? Blanshard warned that Guardia should find a way to unify “the many various elements that are now working for its success,” warned Blanshard – not at least these “socialists” likely to look aside any compromise that the Guardia could have to do with the powerful commercial elite of the city.

Blanshard thought the two parties were in pain. “What is more important than all Laguardia associations,” he wrote, “is the direct way he spoke in this campaign…. [I]It seems as certain as anything in politics as if it is sent to the Town Hall, he will exercise the vast powers of the mayor of New York with economic insight and political independence. »»

Blanshard admitted that there were limits to what the Guardia could achieve. A “social revolution” would not be to come: “within the framework of our state and federal governments, what could a good mayor accomplish? Albany. “”

Despite this, the Guardia elections would increase political and economic democracy. “From a long -term point of view,” concluded Blanshard, the Guardia elections could not only promote “a new faith in the ability of a city to use democracy intelligently”, but even transform it into “a gigantic civic reconstruction laboratory…. [H]The elevation of the New York City Hall could mean real new affairs for a metropolis that has been suffering for a long time. »»

It is a prediction which would prove to be surprisingly premonitory. By working in close collaboration with President Franklin Roosevelt, the Guardia helped inaugurate an era of vast public works and the political reform which fundamentally reshaped New York. (Blanshard himself was going to direct the city’s investigation department and accounts under the Guardia, a position he used to help eliminate corruption.)

Of course, unlike the Guardia, a mayor Mamdani would not find any ally at the White House, at least not any soon. But it did not finish his appreciation for the little flower. When he was asked to appoint the best mayor in New York, he chose Guardia.