When LaGuardia Was Mayor: New York's Legendary Years

by August Heckscher

Lng-time observer of the NYC scene & former Commissioner of Parks & Cultural Affairs, Heckscher has produced a sprawling account of the LaGuardia mayoralty year-by-year (1934-45) that, for lack of differentiation & applied insights, is likely to appeal only to New Yorkers with long memories or a consuming interest in local affairs. Aiming to be neither revisionist (derogatory) nor adulatory, but rather to portray the Little Flower as he was seen in his own time, he succeeds to the extent of reviving--without significantly elucidating--all the conflicts of personality, interests & purpose that roiled the LaGuardia years. The format is a handicap. Each year he feels obliged, newspaper-like, to take stock; but his pronouncements are often platitudinous & banal. Each year he must take up current, but also recurrent, issues, with the result that few are dealt with as a coherent unit (minor embroilments--such as proper policemen's summer attire--are repeatedly referred to). Overall, he can only say what New Yorkers have always known, that their best-beloved mayor was longer on personality (his tireless energy & restless zeal) than on accomplishments; & he doesn't err in identifying encouragement of creative activity as perhaps his most lasting benefaction. But even here his coverage is spotty, with only a few perfunctory words on what some think was indeed his most original accomplishment, the High School of Music & Art. The curious can read about the face-off with Mike Quill or the rout of Bertrand Russell; pick up signs--apropos of the budget or urban sprawl--of suppurating city ills; listen again to LaGuardia on the air. But without color or incisiveness this scores neither on the personal nor the public front.

Genres: Biography

448 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1978

About the author

August Heckscher was an American public intellectual and author whose work explored the American liberalism of political leaders.

Reviews

[Lorenzo Lucchesi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When LaGuardia was mayor is a great book that I found managed to put Mayor LaGuardia at the top of my lists of idols. The way Heckscher described the man is truly ingenious and portrays him as the savior of a city bound for the worst. New York City has just hit the Depression and is suffering through people camping on the streets, utter filth, and a broken down transportation system. However, when LaGuardia is elected in 1934, he achieves many things including the construction of;
1.) Brooklyn-Battery Bridge
2.) Queens-Midtown Tunnel
3.) Triborough Bridge
4.) LaGuardia Intl Airport
5.) Multiple subway lines and connected all boroughs to Manhattan
6.) The restoration of Bryant Park from an abandoned subway station to a beautiful park
7.) Many playgrounds and housing projects
8.) He represented the minorities as he was a polyglot
9.) Fought the mob and various crime and handled the Harlem riots especially well
10.) Built city center so the people could see low cost high class performances
11.) Obliterated Tammany Hall

Then Heckscher describes in detail the friendship and rivalry between LaGuardia and Robert Moses and Moses thirst for power. This novel is excellent and will give you deep insight on who this man really was and what earned him his name on an airport. I would recommend reading this for people interested in: New York, LaGuardia, History, a good book, etc........