Grand Old Partisan salutes George Shoup, born near Pittsburgh, June 15th 1836. Age twenty-three, the entrepreneur moved to Colorado. During the Civil War, he was a scout, then an officer in the territorial cavalry. Peace restored, Shoup relocated to Idaho... Read more →
June 15, 2021
June 14, 2021
the first Radio Broadcast of a Presidential Speech
Grand Old Partisan commemorates the first radio broadcast of a presidential speech. It happened June 14th 1922, at Fort McHenry Park, in Baltimore. Warren Harding dedicated a memorial to Francis Scott Key, author of the words for The Star Spangled... Read more →
June 13, 2021
William Keim, from Whig Mayor to Republican Congressman to Union General
Grand Old Partisan salutes William Keim, born in Pennsylvania, June 13th 1813. He served as a militia officer after graduating from military school. In 1848, he was elected mayor of Reading. Keim joined the state GOP at its formation. In... Read more →
June 12, 2021
Democrats protested a Republican First Lady inviting an African-American Woman to the White House
Grand Old Partisan deplores Democrat depravity. Slavery Party activists were outraged when a Republican administration invited an African-American woman to the White House. In 1929, the First Lady, Lou Hoover, invited congressional wives to a tea party. It took place... Read more →
June 11, 2021
Eli Thayer, heroic Anti-Slavery Activist and Massachusetts Republican Congressman
Grand Old Partisan honors Eli Thayer, born in Massachusetts, June 11th 1819. He studied law after graduating from Brown University. This education pioneer established a school for women. He was town councilman, then state representative. Thayer secured a legislative charter... Read more →
June 10, 2021
GOP-controlled Illinois was First State to Ratify the 19th Amendment
Grand Old Partisan appreciates Republicans’ leading role in securing for women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment was passed by the GOP-controlled 66th Congress. It then went to the states for ratification. First to ratify was Illinois. Both houses... Read more →
June 09, 2021
Charles Bonaparte, eminent Republican Statesman
"It is our duty as good citizens not to remain silent. If we each can do this then, I believe, we will truly be living not in the shadow, but in the brightness of the tradition of the greatness of... Read more →
June 08, 2021
President William Howard Taft dedicated the Christopher Columbus Memorial in Washington, DC
Grand Old Partisan spotlights the Christopher Columbus Memorial, at Union Station in Washington DC. It began as an initiative by the Catholic fraternal organization Knights of Columbus. President Theodore Roosevelt approved funding for the project. June 8th 1912, more than... Read more →
June 07, 2021
the Chicago Suffrage Parade
Grand Old Partisan commemorates the Chicago Suffrage Parade. That city was site of the 1916 Republican National Convention. June 7th, five thousand women braved a thunderstorm to march through downtown. Elevating the mood were a brass band and an elephant... Read more →
June 06, 2021
Israel Washburn, the first Republican Congressman
"a pillar of integrity, loyalty itself" Grand Old Partisan honors Israel Washburn, born in Maine, June 6th 1813. The young attorney served a term in the state house. In 1850, as a Whig, he was elected to the U.S. House... Read more →
June 05, 2021
a Republican Judge ruled in favor of Rosa Parks
Grand Old Partisan commemorates yet another of the GOP’s civil rights achievements. June 5th 1956, Judge Frank Johnson ruled in favor of Rosa Park. The decision Browder v. Gayle struck down a notorious Democrat law. No longer in Montgomery, Alabama... Read more →
June 04, 2021
President Eisenhower’s favorite statesman, Robert Anderson
Grand Old Partisan salutes Robert Anderson, born near Fort Worth, June 4th 1910. He taught high school before attending the University of Texas Law School. The young lawyer was an assistant state attorney general, then tax commissioner. Next, he bought... Read more →
June 03, 2021
President William McKinley and his ailing Vice President, Garret Hobart
Grand Old Partisan spotlights a poignant letter from a Republican President to his Vice President. dated June 3rd 1899: Mrs. McKinley joins me in affectionate birthday greetings with the hope that your journey was without discomfort and that your summer... Read more →
June 02, 2021
Flavius Beal – “the Man who Put the Bang in Bangor”
Grand Old Partisan salutes Flavius Beal, born in Maine, June 2nd 1841. He was a Union army sergeant during the Civil War. Peace restored, he worked his way up from railroad baggage handler to hotel manager. In 1892, this self-made... Read more →
June 01, 2021
Wirt Yerger, founder of the modern Mississippi Republican Party
Grand Old Partisan honors Wirt Yerger, born in Jackson, June 1st 1930. It was this dynamic young conservative who revived the Mississippi GOP, which had been nearly inactive since the end of Reconstruction. In 1956, he united Young Republicans, Eisenhower... Read more →
My father, of blessed memory, wrote a book now available on Kindle:
Soldier Boy: a Memoir of Life and Death and Survival during WWII
e-mail to Michael Zak
Back to Basics for the Republican Party
- "We need to promote Back to Basics for the Republican Party to every single proud Republican!!!!"
- "Every precinct committeeman, every candidate and every teacher with a Republican affiliation should read this book and pass it on to another."
- "Michael Zak takes a novel approach to the culture wars by boldly boasting the historical record of the Republican Party. Rather then sheepishly bow to the Democrat's ongoing myths (and frequently, outright lies) about the GOP, he brings the history and heroes of the Republican Party into the fray."
- “Why is it that we Republicans are so easily outmaneuvered by Democrats?
Why do Republicans so readily fight among themselves?
Why is it so difficult for Republicans to advance their policy agenda?
Here's why."
Back to Basics for the Republican Party - “The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future. All these are links in the endless chain stretching from the finite to the infinite.”
Abraham Lincoln - “The Founding Fathers knew a government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing.”
Ronald Reagan
Speech Raves
- "Your words at the Lincoln Day dinner were truly inspiring. Thank you so much for your dedicated work and contributions to our Party."
- "Your book is outstanding, and it's nice to have the information come alive during your presentation. You are at once informative and motivating. We've got to get back to basics -- as you say."
- "Thank you for speaking at the luncheon. I've already received many favorable comments. You're absolutely right that the Republican leadership should know our party's history."
- "Thanks for all that you do for the Republican Party and our Nation."
- “Your speech was great and just what some of us depressed Republicans needed. The GOP has taken its eye off of the major issue: freedom v. socialism. You spoke to the core of that issue.”
- “Thank you so much for speaking at the state convention. We received wonderful feedback from everyone in attendance. Everyone was impressed with the depth and breadth of your knowledge, as well as your clear speaking style and sense of humor. You made an outstanding presentation, and we are deeply grateful to you for your efforts.”
- “You have a great vision and hope for the Party, and I think you are embarking on important work.”
- “Thank you so much for speaking at our event. You are offering a tremendous service not only to Republicans, but also to the United States and the world.”
grand_old_partisan@hotmail.com
I am offering the solution to a problem most Republicans don't know they have -- that they can be outmaneuvered and thrown on the defensive endlessly, on nearly any issue, because they accept as true Democrat lies about the Republican Party. To correct that misperception and to help the Republican Party get 'back to basics' is why I'm a man on a mission.
A few years ago, after one of my speeches, a man told me "Do you know what your problem is? You're too far ahead of your time!" My efforts to show Republicans how they would benefit from celebrating the heritage of our Grand Old Party have been arduous, but if this were easy someone else would have already done it.
Among my speech topics are Reconciling the Tea Party and the GOP; Barack Obama, the Worst President Ever; Socialism, the new Slavery; Appreciating the Heritage of our Grand Old Party; Returning to the Founding Principles of the United States; The Women’s Rights Achievements of our Grand Old Party; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; Frederick Douglass, Republican; Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy.
event photos
- Michael Zak is a popular speaker to conservative organizations around the nation -- thirty states so far. His message is that Republicans would benefit tremendously from appreciating the heritage of our Grand Old Party.
Book Reviews
- "Your book is a national treasure.I'm always recommending it to people."
- "Thank you, Michael!!! Every person who calls himself a Republican, and every person who just wants to know the truth. should know your book!!!"
- "If you're a Republican and love history, this book by my friend Michael Zak is a must read. And if you happen to be looking for a Lincoln/Reagan Day dinner speaker, I highly recommend him."
- great information on our rich heritage"Get a copy of Michael Zak's book, Back to Basics for the Republican Party"
- "I recommend Back to Basics for the Republican Party to everyone who wants to be educated on the true history of the GOP and America!!!!
- Phenomenal historyAnyone who liked the Lincoln movie will love this book. This book is perhaps the best kept secret in all political and history books in America. It is something every politico should read. It puts things into historical perspective like few other books I've read. It challenges conventional through thorough documented history. This is a must read for any student of American history and political science. One regret is that I read the book more than a decade after it was published. It truly is something you feel you missed out on. It is also a book that leaves you wanting to learn more about certain individuals such as Thaddeus Stevens. It's an incredible body of work."
- "Thank you for writing your book. I am two chapters into it, and find it fascinating and motivating. This may be a very significant contribution to the rise of the GOP in the coming years."
- "I am a believer in pro-free market and pro-constitutional rights who recently purchased your book Back to Basics for the Republican Party and have not been able to put it down. It is simply amazing you composed a book in 2003 that hits home on the most serious of topics we face today. I completely agree that we must educate and focus on the original plan as laid out by the founders of our party if we are ever to move forward in a positive direction."
- Praise from Alaska"I purchased your book at our Juneau, Alaska Republican Women's Luncheon last month principally because the title intrigued me. I just finished it, reading the last chapter three times. I wanted to burn the wisdom presented into my brain. Thank you again for all your hard work to research and write your book. Thank you for all you are doing to educate Americans on the incredible truth of the founding of our great country.""Thank you for doing all the research to write this book. As a History/American Studies major, I THOUGHT I knew the difference between Republicans and Democrats, the roles of Lincoln and Stevens and Sumner and Reagan, and the history of our country from the revolutionary war through the civil war. Boy, was I soooo wrong."
- Read it and MEMORIZE it!"My copy is dog-eared with notes and underlined parts. “Back to Basics for the Republican Party has been tremendously helpful setting mis-educated Democrats straight on history!"
- It's a fantatic buy!“Back to Basics for the Republican Party is very informative and gives you an insight into the history of the party from the early days to the modern day presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. What the author has done is provide a balanced view, giving the reader a fascinating 150-year journey of the Republicans. This book is a REAL political page turner which will open minds to a wealth of knowledge and history which most are not even aware of.
- “Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan.”
- “This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!”
- “Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before.”
- "one of the best books I ever read"
- “Your book, Back to Basics for the Republican Party, is most timely during this 2010 pre-election period. It is a message that needs to be emphasized to all grassroots activists. From the precinct, county, district and national levels your respected views need to be heard and read on how to take back our country.”
- from the first page: “Democrats control most of the media, but they also write most of the history books, thereby controlling what even Republican activists think they know about our Party's glorious heritage.”