1882-1947. US Republican politician;
congressman 1917, 1919, 1923-33; mayor of New
York 1933-45. Elected against the opposition
of the powerful Tammany Hall Democratic Party
organization, he cleaned up the
administration, suppressed racketeering; and
organized unemployment relief, slum-clearance
schemes, and social services. Although
nominally a Republican, he strongly supported
F D Roosevelt's New Deal. La Guardia Airport,
in New York City, is named after him.