After reading Back to Basics for the Republican Party, my history of the GOP, Rep. Christopher Cox hired me at the House Policy Committee. He wanted to help inform people about the book's theme, that Republicans should appreciate the heritage of our Grand Old Party. The result was the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar. The entries have been re-published, though not accredited to me, on many websites. The calendar celebrates 365 achievements and heroes of the Republican Party, such as:
January 15, 1901 -- Republican Booker T. Washington protests the Alabama Democratic Party’s refusal to permit voting by African-Americans
February 19, 1976 -- President Gerald Ford formally rescinds President Franklin Roosevelt's notorious Executive Order authorizing internment of over 120,000 Japanese-Americans during WWII
September 9, 1957 -- President Dwight Eisenhower signs the Republican Party's 1957 Civil Rights Act
November 7, 1916 -- Jeannette Rankin, Republican from Montana, becomes first woman elected to U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Cox made sure to give credit where credit was due. At his insistence, the back cover of the calendar says: "Text based in substantial part on the original copyrighted work of Michael Zak, Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of the GOP, http://www.grandoldpartisan.com."
Here is a link to the calendar page for January.
Here is a link to the calendar page for June.
Thousands of these calendars were distributed at the 2004 Republican National Convention as well as to Members of Congress and other officials around the country. Ever since then, my Grand Old Partisan blog has continued to celebrate our party's glorious heritage.
The book Back to Basics for the Republican Party shows Republicans how they would benefit tremendously from appreciating the heritage of our Grand Old Party. Here is a link to some reader feedback.
Here is a link to some audience reaction, at my speeches to Republican organizations in thirty states so far. For invitations to speak at conventions, fundraisers and other Republican events: Grand_Old_Partisan@hotmail.com
See www.grandoldpartisan.com for more information.

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