A Preview of 'Patience and Fortitude: A History of Mayor La Guardia on WNYC'

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Host: Alison Stewart
Date: September 19, 2024
Episode: A Preview of 'Patience and Fortitude: A History of Mayor La Guardia on WNYC'

This episode serves as a preview for a WNYC centennial special celebrating both the station’s 100-year history and the legacy of Fiorello LaGuardia, one of New York City’s most consequential mayors. Host Alison Stewart is joined by producer Luke Green to discuss LaGuardia’s impact on the city, his pioneering use of radio (especially WNYC) to speak directly to New Yorkers, and the enduring relevance of his leadership and values.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Significance of Fiorello LaGuardia's Tenure

• LaGuardia’s Era: Mayor during the 1930s and 1940s, a time marked by the Great Depression and World War II.
  • Luke Green: “He had to deal with the aftermath of this crisis where a lot of New Yorkers were hurting. And then fast forward a decade later, you're into World War II and now he has to become the leader of America's most important city and also deal with potential air raid attacks.” (01:38)
• Physical Legacy: LaGuardia’s leadership fundamentally shaped the city’s infrastructure.
  • Unified the city’s subway system.
  • Oversaw creation of major airports: LaGuardia and JFK.
  • Championed public housing initiatives.

WNYC and LaGuardia: A Shared Centennial

• WNYC’s Ownership: The station was city-owned for much of its history, making it a direct civic conduit.
• LaGuardia’s Radio Innovation: Among the first politicians to use radio effectively for public engagement.
  • Luke Green: “He was one of the early politicians to use the radio to his advantage.” (02:43)
• Archival Special: The upcoming special draws extensively from the New York City Municipal Archives, featuring original broadcasts.

LaGuardia’s Charismatic Presence

• Devotion to City and People: LaGuardia’s passion for the job and for ordinary New Yorkers stands out.
  • Luke Green: “He really just loved being mayor of New York. …he was so passionate about working for hard working people in this city.” (03:23)
• Unique Voice and Style: His accent is described as unplaceable and distinct; engaging and memorable.
  • Luke Green: "You can't place the accent at all... it's just something that you can't help but listen to." (03:49)

‘Talk to the People’ and LaGuardia’s Broadcasting Style

• Show Format: Informal, direct communication; LaGuardia brought war news, city updates, even price changes and lighter moments into living rooms.
  • Luke Green: “He would just talk to New Yorkers as if they were in the same room together…He'd also have some fun…he was the narrator of a Christmas pageant broadcast.” (04:50)
• LaGuardia Audio Montage: Authentic segments with the mayor’s playful and personal rapport.
  • Fiorello LaGuardia (example): “Now, don’t let your mouth water. It’s only potatoes. We have just a lot of potatoes. And if you want to go on a potato spree, now is the time to do it.” (05:43)

The Meaning of "Patience and Fortitude"

• Library Lions: The New York Public Library’s stone lions, named by LaGuardia during the Depression, reflected the spirit he wished for New Yorkers.
  • Luke Green: “He wanted people to have patience and fortitude to get through this hard time.” (05:18)

LaGuardia’s Enduring Relevance

• Timeless Issues: Immigration and public welfare—themes LaGuardia championed—remain vital today.
  • Luke Green: “Everywhere you go, and also the issues that he stood up for at the time, especially immigration, we're dealing with as a city and a country today.” (06:18)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• LaGuardia’s On-Air Humanity:
  • Fiorello LaGuardia: “You know, even a mayor can be human, Pat, once in a while. Doesn’t hurt at all.” (04:32)
• Personal Reflections on Snow:
  • Fiorello LaGuardia: “I dread snow. I don’t know, I just dread snow. And I pray every night to please keep snow away.” (05:41)
• Classic LaGuardia Wit about Scarcity and Potatoes:
  • Fiorello LaGuardia: “Well, I always tell you what we’re short of and how scarce some food is. Well, here’s something that we have plenty of...it’s only potatoes. Oh, we have just a lot of potatoes. And if you want to go on a potato spree, now is the time." (05:43)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:48] – Alison Stewart introduces the centennial special and guest, Luke Green.
• [01:31] – Luke Green discusses why LaGuardia is so consequential for New York.
• [02:43] – WNYC’s centennial and LaGuardia’s connection to the station’s mission.
• [03:23] – Reflections on LaGuardia’s speaking style and passion.
• [04:09] – Archival clip: LaGuardia addresses WNYC listeners about his relationship with the public and the station.
• [04:50] – Green describes what listeners heard during LaGuardia’s broadcasts.
• [05:11] – Naming of the New York Public Library lions: Patience and Fortitude.
• [05:37] – Montage of LaGuardia’s lighter and more personal on-air moments.
• [06:18] – Why LaGuardia’s issues remain relevant today.
• [06:32] – Conclusion and thanks to Luke Green.

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Overall Tone and Takeaway

The conversation is warm, enthusiastic, and reflective, emphasizing both the deep historical impact and continued resonance of Mayor LaGuardia's leadership. The episode invites listeners to appreciate the innovative ways he used media to foster public connection—and shows how the challenges and triumphs of his era echo in NYC’s present.

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For those intrigued by New York City’s cultural and political history, this episode offers a vivid preview of an archival radio special that promises both historical insight and vibrant audio storytelling. Tune in to WNYC's noon hour for the full broadcast.

Transcript

[Luke Green]

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[Fiorello LaGuardia]

Well, that's how Geico gets 97% customer satisfaction.

[Luke Green]

Yeah, I'll let you get back to your food.

[Fiorello LaGuardia]

So are you just gonna watch me eat?

[Luke Green]

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[Fiorello LaGuardia]

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[WNYC Sponsor/Announcer]

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[WNYC Listener Support]

Listener support WNYC Studios.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of It on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. Heads up, people. This year is WNYC centennial and tomorrow at noon, we're dating a special we spent a year working on. It's about the life of New York City mayor who spent a whole lot of time, his tenure talking on wnyc. Fiorello laguardia. The special is called Patience and A history of Mayor LaGuardia on WNYC. It will include lots of great highlights from the New York City Municipal Archives. It's airing tomorrow on our show in the noon hour and I promise you it is appointment listening. I have our producer Luke Green here now to tell us more about LaGuardia and what you'll heal tomorrow. He's been one of the team members working on this project. Hi, Luke.

[Luke Green]

Hi, Alison.

[Alison Stewart]

So LaGuardia was the mayor in the 30s and the 40s. Why is he such a consequential mayor for New York's history?

[Luke Green]

Well, think about what you just said. The 30s and the 40s, a very important time in New York City, a very difficult time for a lot of people in the city. You know, think about when Mayor LaGuardia took over the leadership of the city. It was right after the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression. So he had to deal with the aftermath of of this crisis where a lot of New Yorkers were hurting. And then fast forward a decade later, you're into World War II and now he has to become the leader of America's most important city and also deal with potential air raid attacks. They didn't know what was going to happen. So it's really an important time. The other reason why I would say his legacy is so important is when you walk around the city, you see the physical impact he had. You know, he's the guy who unified our subway system. The reason why the whole system works together is because he made that the other two airports that exist, LaGuardia Airport in Queens and JFK exist because of him and a lot of the public housing stock that was first built as well. So those are the two reasons why I would say.

[Alison Stewart]

So what's the connection between LaGuardia and our centennial year?

[Luke Green]

Well, you know, we are celebrating our 100th anniversary this year and people might not know that WNYC was owned by the city for most of its history. And that meant that the mayor often would just speak right to New Yorkers listening. And LaGuardia was a huge innovator of that. He was one of the early politicians to use the radio to his advantage. And, you know, as we're celebrating WNYC's history, Mayor LaGuardia is a huge part of that. And so we figured what better way to merge the two together than look back at his history told through our archives.

[Alison Stewart]

After listening to so much LaGuardia tape, so much Luke, so much. What struck you about his speaking style?

[Luke Green]

Yeah, I listened to maybe 40 hours in our, in our archive. I would just say you listen to his voice and you hear just his absolute devotion to his job. He really just loved being mayor of New York. And this is a guy who was a congressman in Washington, but he gave that up to be mayor of New York City because he was so passionate about working for hard working people in this city. And you also just hear his voice and it's just the most strange sounding accent. We talk about this in the special that you'll hear tomorrow. You just, you can't place the accent at all. You're like, how does this guy get this voice? But it's very, I think it's just something that you can't help but listen to. And some politicians have that way of grabbing people with their voice.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, let's listen to a little bit of laguardia.

[Fiorello LaGuardia]

Well, I'm very happy to say that apparently I'm going to continue to talk to you on WNYC for some time. I like this station, you know, and I like to talk and keep you informed. As I said, I always, I've always done that and I always continue to do so. One way or another, I'll always find a way to keep you informed. And I want to thank all who wrote such encouraging letters. It was encouraging and I appreciate it so much. You know, even a mayor can be human, Pat once in a while. Doesn't hurt at all.

[Alison Stewart]

What would one hear during LaGuardia's show?

[Luke Green]

Yeah, well, he had this show called Talk to the People. And essentially, as you just heard there, he would just talk to New Yorkers as if they were in the same room together. He would deliver the latest war news, the fluctuation of grocery prices, anything regarding city affairs. And he'd also have some fun. There's one story where he was the narrator of a Christmas pageant broadcast. So you'd hear all kinds of things in the Talk to People broadcast.

[Alison Stewart]

The special is called Patience and A history of Mayor LaGuardia on WNYC. Those happen to be the names of the lions.

[Luke Green]

Yes, they do. If you've passed the main branch of the New York Public Library, you know that those two lions are named Patience and Fortitude. And Mayor LaGuardia named the lions after the Great Depression or during the Great Depression. He wanted people to have patience and fortitude to get through this hard time.

[Alison Stewart]

Are we gonna listen to this montage of him talking?

[Luke Green]

Yeah, sure, let's do it. It's very fun.

[Fiorello LaGuardia]

Patience and Fortitude. And that's something we will all need in order to win this war. All right. Now that brings us up to snow. I dread snow. I don't know, I just dread snow. And I pray every night to please keep snow awake. Well, I always tell you what we're short of and how scarce some food is. Well, here's something that we have plenty of. Now, don't let your mouth water. It's only potatoes. Oh, we have just a lot of potatoes. And if you want to go on a potato spree, now is the time to do it. Well, the order on fish finally came through. Amen. Did I wait for that?

[Alison Stewart]

Why should we care about LaGuardia today?

[Luke Green]

Well, because he just had such an impact on our city. Everywhere you go, and also the issues that he stood up for at the time, especially immigration, we're dealing with as a city and a country today. So his issues matter. And you'll hear that tomorrow.

[Alison Stewart]

Tomorrow at noon. Luke Green did a lot of hard work on this. Thanks, Luke.

[Luke Green]

Thank you.

[Alison Stewart]

We're going to go out on Mayor LaGuardia.

[WNYC Sponsor/Announcer]

Let's do it.

[WNYC Listener Support]

We want LaGuardia. M A G U A R D I A and every rad continue and republic start to say a silent prayer. We got the man who's going to turn the town both inside out and upside down. The party up, his honor, the mayor. As you change it, all the people want you to so cast your spell Pump Next election day, the name's LaGuardia.

[WNYC Sponsor/Announcer]

NYC now delivers breaking news, top headlines, and in depth coverage from WNYC and Gothamist every morning, midday, and evening. By sponsoring our programming, you'll reach a community of passionate listeners in an uncluttered audio experience. Visit sponsorship wnyc. Org to learn more.