he was elected to congress in 1916 and 1918, and again from 1922 through 1930. la guardia and is often touted as one of the three or four greatest mayors in american history. since he was only five feet tall and his first name was italian for "little flower", he was called "the little flower" throughout his life. he moved to arizona with his family, where his father had a bandmaster position at fort whipple in the u.s. army.