Grand Old Partisan commemorates the Judicial Circuits Act, signed July 23rd 1866. Republicans thereby blocked Democrat President Andrew Johnson from nominating anyone to the U.S. Supreme Court. It was passed by the GOP-controlled 39th Congress, following the recommendation of Chief... Read more →
July 23, 2021
July 22, 2021
Socrates Sherman, from Republican Congressman to Battlefield Surgeon
Grand Old Partisan salutes Socrates Sherman, born July 22nd 1801. He studied medicine in Vermont and settled in upstate New York. As a Republican, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1860. Among the GOP’s legislation receiving... Read more →
July 21, 2021
a Republican President and the first Columbus Day
Grand Old Partisan appreciates Republican reverence for our nation’s heritage. July 21st 1892, Benjamin Harrison issued the proclamation making Columbus Day a national holiday. In addition to boosting patriotism, the President’s motivations were honoring Italians and all immigrants. "Now, therefore,... Read more →
July 20, 2021
Elisha Dyer, first Republican Governor of Rhode Island
Grand Old Partisan salutes Elisha Dyer, born in Providence, July 20th 1811. After graduation from Brown University, his career began at the family merchandising business. Five years he served as chief administrative officer of the state militia. He established an... Read more →
July 19, 2021
Frederic Greenhalge, beloved immigrant Republican Governor of Massachusetts
"He had the qualities which men have admired in all ages — lofty intellect, profound reason, a sympathetic mind, graceful delivery, a magnetic voice, and an attractive personality, all necessary in a successful leader and public speaker." Grand Old Partisan... Read more →
July 18, 2021
Samuel Hayakawa, pro-freedom California Republican Senator
"a man who had the strength of character to fight unabashedly for what he believed in and for what he felt in his heart was in the best interest of the nation" Grand Old Partisan lauds Samuel Hayakawa, born in... Read more →
July 17, 2021
a warning from Ripon, Wisconsin is today's reality
Grand Old Partisan laments Democrat Vote Fraud. Were it not for Slavery Party Evil, this dire warning would not be today’s reality. July 17th 2020, Mike Pence spoke on behalf of a visionary: "Allow me to begin by bringing greetings... Read more →
July 16, 2021
Eunice Carter, the first Female African-American Prosecutor
Grand Old Partisan honors Eunice Carter, born July 16th 1899. Her parents were a national leader of the Young Men’s Christian Association and a suffragist. Democrat oppression led the family to flee Atlanta, to Brooklyn. Governor Calvin Coolidge advised her... Read more →
July 15, 2021
Joseph Abbott, from New Hampshire Soldier to North Carolina Senator
Grand Old Partisan salutes Joseph Abbott, born in New Hampshire, July 15th 1825. He edited a newspaper after studying law. An anti-slavery governor commissioned him to reorganize the state militia. Outbreak of civil war, Abbott enlisted as lieutenant colonel of... Read more →
July 14, 2021
Republicans coined the Lincoln Penny
Grand Old Partisan reveres the greatest Republican of them all. Abraham Lincoln was the first actual person depicted on a U.S. coin. President Theodore Roosevelt instructed his Treasury Secretary to develop coinage with more artistic designs. This undertaking included a... Read more →
July 13, 2021
Founding of the Vermont Republican Party
Grand Old Partisan commemorates the founding of the Vermont Republican Party. Outraged by pro-slavery Democrats, friends of freedom in the Green Mountain State called for a convention to replace the Whig Party with a broad coalition of anti-slavery activists. Invited... Read more →
July 12, 2021
John Addams, influential Illinois Republican Legislator
Grand Old Partisan honors John Addams, born in Pennsylvania, July 11th 1822. He and his bride moved to northwest Illinois and bought a water mill. Operations expanded to include sawing wood as well as grinding grain. He later established a... Read more →
July 11, 2021
Frank Morey, early Louisiana Republican Congressman
Grand Old Partisan salutes Frank Morey, born in Boston, July 11th 1840. He relocated to Illinois at age seventeen and studied law. Outbreak of civil war, the young patriot enlisted in the state’s 33rd Infantry and rose to be its... Read more →
July 10, 2021
Wilhelm Thielepape, the first Republican Mayor of San Antonio
Grand Old Partisan honors Wilhelm Thielepape, born near Frankfurt, July 10th 1814. He studied engineering at university. Age thirty, he emigrated to Texas, for work as surveyor and architect. Other ventures including teaching secondary school and editing an anti-slavery newspaper.... Read more →
July 09, 2021
President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency
Grand Old Partisan appreciates Republican focus on America paying "its debt to the past by reclaiming the purity of its air, its waters, and our living environment." Richard Nixon said that. July 9th 1970, the President submitted to Congress his... 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.”