New York City Mayor, U.S. Congressmen. He is best known for being the progressive 99th Mayor of New York City, New York for three terms (1934 to 1945). Born in New York City, he spent his early years in Eastern Europe. He worked in the American consulates in Budapest, Hungary, Trieste, Italy and Fiume, Croatia before returning to the United States in 1906 and working on Ellis Island as an interpreter. While working at Ellis Island, he attended New York University (NYU) Law School, graduated and was admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 1910. Opposing the "Tammany Hall" Democratic regime and political corruption in general, he was a charismatic and tremendous campaigner. He was elected twice as a Republican to represent two different New York Congressional Districts in the United States House of Representatives, serving first the 14th District from 1917 to 1919, then the 20th District from 1920 to 1923. While a sitting Congressman he joined the United States Army during World War I (WWI), rising the rank of Major in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and earning the Italian Cross for his service commanding air forces along the Italian-Austrian front. Elected New York City Mayor in 1934, he was particularly famous for reading the daily newspaper comic strips to the city's children over the radio during a newspaper strike during his tenure as mayor. He was the first Italian-American Mayor of New York City, a predecessor to the 107th Mayor Rudy Giuliani. An aviation advocate, he was responsible for the creation of North Beach Airport, New York City's first commercial airport. It was renamed LaGuardia Airport in 1960 in his honor. The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "Fiorello!" (1959) is based on his life and career, starring Tom Bosley in the title role.
New York City Mayor, U.S. Congressmen. He is best known for being the progressive 99th Mayor of New York City, New York for three terms (1934 to 1945). Born in New York City, he spent his early years in Eastern Europe. He worked in the American consulates in Budapest, Hungary, Trieste, Italy and Fiume, Croatia before returning to the United States in 1906 and working on Ellis Island as an interpreter. While working at Ellis Island, he attended New York University (NYU) Law School, graduated and was admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 1910. Opposing the "Tammany Hall" Democratic regime and political corruption in general, he was a charismatic and tremendous campaigner. He was elected twice as a Republican to represent two different New York Congressional Districts in the United States House of Representatives, serving first the 14th District from 1917 to 1919, then the 20th District from 1920 to 1923. While a sitting Congressman he joined the United States Army during World War I (WWI), rising the rank of Major in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and earning the Italian Cross for his service commanding air forces along the Italian-Austrian front. Elected New York City Mayor in 1934, he was particularly famous for reading the daily newspaper comic strips to the city's children over the radio during a newspaper strike during his tenure as mayor. He was the first Italian-American Mayor of New York City, a predecessor to the 107th Mayor Rudy Giuliani. An aviation advocate, he was responsible for the creation of North Beach Airport, New York City's first commercial airport. It was renamed LaGuardia Airport in 1960 in his honor. The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "Fiorello!" (1959) is based on his life and career, starring Tom Bosley in the title role.
Bio by: RBT
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