Grand Old Partisan spotlights the bicentennial of Georgetown University. October 1st 1988, President Ronald Reagan addressed the Inaugural Convocation for its celebrations. "In the year that Georgetown first came to be, the political system designed by our Constitution was inaugurated... Read more →
October 01, 2022
September 30, 2022
Pennsylvania Senator Matthew Quay "accomplished more of substantial benefit for the Commonwealth than any other man"
Grand Old Partisan salutes Matthew Quay, born September 30th 1833. Law studies followed graduation from Washington and Jefferson College. During the Civil War, he commanded the 134th Pennsylvania Infantry, being awarded the Medal of Honor for valor at the Battle... Read more →
September 29, 2022
Theodore Roosevelt and the Foundation Stone of the National Cathedral
Grand Old Partisan spotlights the origin of Washington, DC's National Cathedral. September 29th 1907, twenty thousand people gathered for the laying of its foundation stone. President Theodore Roosevelt addressed the crowd. Inscribed on the stone, quarried near Bethlehem, is a... Read more →
September 28, 2022
Edwin Walker, one of the first two African-American state legislators
"a lawyer of learning and culture, well versed in the laws of taxation, and of good practical business ideas" "courteous, self-sacrificing, loyal friend of many, but a foe to all who would do harm to his race" Grand Old Partisan... Read more →
September 27, 2022
Contract with America
Grand Old Partisan appreciates coherent political messaging. September 27th 1994, Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives met on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to express their support for a Contract with America. Three hundred fifty-seven signators committed... Read more →
September 26, 2022
David Strother, famous Artist and Soldier and Diplomat
Grand Old Partisan salutes David Strother, born in Martinsburg, September 26th 1816. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and in Europe. His drawings of rural scenes and historic sites, along with commentary, became popular for books... Read more →
September 25, 2022
Walter Judd, missionary doctor and Republican friend of freedom
Grand Old Partisan honors Walter Judd, born in Nebraska, September 25th 1898. He studied medicine at the University of Nebraska. From 1925 to 1931 and from 1934 to 1938, this devout doctor was a missionary in China. During the interim... Read more →
September 24, 2022
Mark Hanna, stellar Republican statesman
Grand Old Partisan salutes Marcus Alonzo Hanna, born in Ohio, September 24th 1837. One of his high school classmates was John D. Rockefeller. He voted for Abraham Lincoln and served in the state’s 150th Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.... Read more →
September 23, 2022
National Museum of the American Indian opening ceremony
Grand Old Partisan celebrates "the legacy of the first people to call this land home." September 23rd 2004, President George W. Bush hosted an opening ceremony for the National Museum of the American Indian. The President observed it to be... Read more →
September 22, 2022
George Washington Murray, from Slave to Republican Congressman
Grand Old Partisan honors George Washington Murray, born September 22nd 1853. He began life enslaved on a South Carolina cotton plantation. After emancipation, this ambitious youth attended the state university once the GOP-controlled legislature opened it to Black students. Murray... Read more →
September 21, 2022
Linwood Holton, first Republican Governor of Virginia since Reconstruction
Grand Old Partisan remembers Linwood Holton, born September 21st 1923. After serving on a submarine during WWII, he returned to study commerce at Washington and University then attended Harvard Law School. Holton set up a legal practice at Roanoke, becoming... Read more →
September 20, 2022
George Leonard White, founder of the Jubilee Singers
Grand Old Partisan applauds George Leonard White, born September 20th 1838. He directed various choirs and established a school for Black children. During the Civil War, his 73rd Ohio Infantry regiment fought at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Atlanta. Peace restored, White... Read more →
September 19, 2022
Ethan Allen Hitchcock, extraordinary Republican Interior Secretary and Ambassador
Grand Old Partisan lauds Ethan Allen Hitchcock, born in Alabama, September 19th 1835. His great-grandfather was the Revolutionary War hero, and his namesake uncle a Union Army general. Hitchcock started out managing a trading company at St. Louis. In 1860,... Read more →
September 18, 2022
William McKinley made the first-ever campaign video
Grand Old Partisan commends Republican political innovations. September 18th 1896, a company co-owned by former President Benjamin Harrison filmed the first-ever campaign video. In a reenactment of the actual event, William McKinley is informed, while at home, by aide George... Read more →
September 17, 2022
Henry Wells, early Republican Governor of Virginia
Grand Old Partisan salutes Henry Wells, born September 17th 1823. This conscientious attorney defended runaway slaves in Michigan. He joined the Republican Party and won election to the state house. Outbreak of civil war, Wells enlisted in a regiment deployed... 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.”