Fiorello La Guardia's Famous Quip: "We Have a Lot of Good Men..."

The Quote

"We have a lot of good men around the city: Democrats, Republicans, and Republicans who call themselves Democrats."

Context

Fiorello La Guardia (1882–1947), the charismatic three-term mayor of New York City (1934–1945), delivered this line during a campaign speech. It skewered political opportunists who switched party labels for personal gain while claiming reformist credentials.

Why It Resonates

• Captures La Guardia's wit, independence, and disdain for machine politics.
• Highlights the fluidity of urban party allegiance in the New Deal era.
• Remains a go-to citation for commentators on political hypocrisy.

La Guardia's Legacy

A Republican who governed with Democratic and Socialist support, he modernized NYC's infrastructure, cracked down on corruption, and championed public housing, parks, and airports (LaGuardia Airport bears his name).