arrow Gracie Mansion is shown during President Truman's visit to New York City, . Smoke at left is the firing of the gun salute. 1949. View all 21 AVAILABLE: 18th century mansion nestled within 11-acre park in exclusive Upper East Side neighborhood of Yorkville. Five bedrooms. River views. Staff included. Rent: $0. Must be winner of most recent campaign for mayor. It’s one of the sweetest deals in all of New York: an official residence that was dubbed the city’s “little White House” by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. He thought the description would appeal to Fiorella LaGuardia, the “rubbery little crusader” of large ambition who’d come out on top in the 1934 mayoral election. So the Power Broker took control of the former country home of prosperous Scottish-born merchant Archibald Gracie, intending to use it to raise the stature of the office. He fixed it up with heating and electricity and a fresh coat of exterior paint. Rugs were laid and draperies hung. Then Moses proudly offered it to the stumpy son of immigrants who had just become New York City’s leading man.