Grand Old Partisan honors Joseph Segar, born near Richmond, June 1st 1804. This accomplished lawyer served six terms in the legislature. Amid political tumult over whether Virginia would secede, he courageously voiced loyalty to the Constitution and the U.S. Government.... Read more →
June 01, 2023
May 31, 2023
James Harris – "eloquent orator dedicated to reforms for the poor, laborers, women and orphans"
Grand Old Partisan praises James Harris, born a slave near Raleigh in 1832. Apprenticed as a carpenter and emancipated at age eighteen, he studied at Oberlin College. Extensive travels included Ontario, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Outbreak of civil war, the... Read more →
May 30, 2023
Francis Kellogg, early Republican Congressman from Michigan and Alabama
"My trust is in the intelligence and patriotism of the people, and may God help us to preserve our liberties and institutions, and transmit them unimpaired to our posterity." Grand Old Partisan honors Francis Kellogg, born in Massachusetts, May 30th... Read more →
May 29, 2023
Abraham Lincoln’s Lost Speech
Grand Old Partisan commemorates Abraham Lincoln's famous Lost Speech. May 29th 1856, two hundred seventy delegates gathered at Major's Hall in Bloomington, Illinois to establish a state Republican Party. The newborn Illinois GOP nominated gubernatorial and other statewide candidates, all... Read more →
May 28, 2023
William Buckingham – "Noble War Governor" of Connecticut
"humble Christian, pure statesman, sincere patriot, perfect gentleman – a model to us all" Grand Old Partisan honors William Buckingham, born in Connecticut, May 28th 1804. He prospered with merchandising and manufacturing. Entry to politics was four years as Mayor... Read more →
May 27, 2023
President George W. Bush at Omaha Beach
Grand Old Partisan highlights Republican patriotism. May 27th 2002, President George W. Bush commemorated Memorial Day at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy: "Our wars have won for us every hour we live in freedom. Our wars have... Read more →
May 26, 2023
Benjamin Franklin Rice, first Chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party
Grand Old Partisan salutes Benjamin Franklin Rice, born in western New York, May 26th 1828. After studying law, he moved to Kentucky and won a term in the state house. In 1860, he relocated to Minnesota. Outbreak of civil war,... Read more →
May 25, 2023
Lieutenant Ronald Reagan
Grand Old Partisan salutes Ronald Reagan, commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve on May 25th 1937. Called to active service in April 1942, he first worked at the Port of San Francisco as an embarkation officer. Two... Read more →
May 24, 2023
Henry Crapo, early Republican Governor of Michigan
Grand Old Partisan lauds Henry Crapo, born in Massachusetts, May 24th 1804. His career began with teaching and surveying. He also was a town councilman and state militia officer. In 1856, Crapo moved to Michigan and bought a thousand acres... Read more →
May 23, 2023
Charles Nash, early African-American Republican Congressman
Grand Old Partisan salutes Charles Nash, born a free Black in Louisiana, May 23rd 1844. His profession was bricklayer. He served as a Union Army sergeant major during the Civil War, losing most of a leg in battle. Peace restored,... Read more →
May 22, 2023
the first-ever color television broadcast featured President Eisenhower
Grand Old Partisan highlights a groundbreaking presidential speech. May 22nd 1958, Dwight Eisenhower spoke at the opening ceremony for NBC's studio in Washington, DC. His videotaped remarks were the first-ever television broadcast in color. See Eisenhower NBC for the video,... Read more →
May 21, 2023
GOP-controlled House of Representatives passed the 19th Amendment
Grand Old Partisan deplores Democrat opposition to women voting. A constitutional amendment guaranteeing women’s suffrage was first introduced by Republican Senator Aaron Sargent, in 1878. Democrat opposition delayed passage four decades. May 1919, Republican Representative James Mann reintroduced a proposed... Read more →
May 20, 2023
Marion Butler, from Democrat to Populist to Republican
Grand Old Partisan honors Marion Butler, born near Raleigh, May 20th 1863. After graduating from University of North Carolina, he worked the family farm and taught school. Age twenty-five, he was elected president of his local Farmers' Alliance and in... Read more →
May 19, 2023
Baltimore celebrating passage of the GOP’s 15th Amendment
Grand Old Partisan commemorates one of our nation’s first civil rights demonstrations. It was held to celebrate ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment. This was a Republican initiative, passed by the GOP-controlled 40th Congress, for extending voting rights to Blacks. May... Read more →
May 18, 2023
James Sener, early Virginia Republican Congressman and Wyoming Chief Justice
Grand Old Partisan honors James Sener, born in Fredericksburg, May 18th 1837. He attended the University of Virginia, later earning a law degree from what is now Washington and Lee University. To avoid conscription by the rebels, he became a... Read more →
Substack link for Grand Old Partisan
My father, of blessed memory, wrote a book now available on Kindle:
Soldier Boy: a Memoir of Life and Death and Survival during WWII
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.”
[email protected]
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.”