"Campbell is important because his vision and efforts gave the just-freed blacks time to cope with the realities and terms of freedom and his actions gave them confidence to resist oppression." Grand Old Partisan honors Tunis Campbell, born in New... Read more →
April 01, 2023
March 31, 2023
R.C.O. Benjamin – "He died for voting rights"
Grand Old Partisan honors Robert Charles O'Hara Benjamin, born on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, March 31st 1855. He traveled to England and Indonesia before arriving in the United States at age fourteen. Black Republican luminaries such as Henry... Read more →
March 30, 2023
Walter McIndoe – "earnest, patriotic and faithful" Republican Congressman
Grand Old Partisan salutes Walter McIndoe, born in Scotland, March 30th 1819. He immigrated at age fifteen. The lumber business took him from New York to South Carolina to Missouri to Wisconsin. A sawmill accident cost him an arm. While... Read more →
March 29, 2023
Herbert Hoover and his Oval Office telephone
Grand Old Partisan notes a White House upgrade. March 29th 1929, Herbert Hoover had a telephone installed at his desk in the Oval Office. Until then, Presidents had made their calls from a nearby foyer. Rutherford Hayes had the telephone... Read more →
March 28, 2023
Rufus Bullock, the first Republican Governor of Georgia
Grand Old Partisan honors Rufus Bullock, born in upstate New York, March 28th 1834. He managed a telegraph office in Philadelphia before moving to Augusta, Georgia in 1859. During the Civil War, Bullock oversaw the region's communications and railroads for... Read more →
March 27, 2023
the first-ever meeting of the Republican National Committee
Grand Old Partisan commemorates the first-ever meeting of the RNC. March 27th 1856, National Committeemen from twenty-two states and territories assembled at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. Their purpose was to coordinate nationwide opposition against the Democrats' pro-slavery agenda.... Read more →
March 26, 2023
Jonah Kalanianaole, the Republican who would have been King
Grand Old Partisan honors Jonah Kalanianaole, of the Hawaiian royal family, born March 26th 1871. While studying in Santa Cruz, he introduced surfing to California. After graduation, he returned home and worked for the islands' government. The young prince was... Read more →
March 25, 2023
Theodore Roosevelt explaining the Death of a Republic
Grand Old Partisan recalls a prophetic warning from Theodore Roosevelt. It is very relevant to the United States today: "The Roman Republic fell, not because of the ambition of Caesar or Augustus, but because it had already long ceased to... Read more →
March 24, 2023
George Wright, eminent Iowa Republican Jurist and Senator
Grand Old Partisan honors George Wright, born March 24th 1820. He settled in Iowa after graduating from Indiana University and studying law. The territorial governor appointed him a county prosecutor, age twenty-five. He was delegate at the 1846 state constitutional... Read more →
March 23, 2023
Congressman Dudley Haskell – "one of the largest-minded and noblest citizens of Kansas"
Grand Old Partisan salutes Dudley Haskell, born March 23rd 1842. His first professions were shoemaker and gold miner. During the Civil War, he served as a quartermaster for Union troops. Peace restored, Haskell moved to Kansas and resumed shoemaking. He... Read more →
March 22, 2023
the Ohio Republican Party, established in 1854 to oppose slavery
Grand Old Partisan highlights origin of the Ohio GOP. Early 1854, Democrats were supporting the extension of slavery into western territories. Friends of freedom reacted by organizing a Grand New Party. The process began, in Ohio, at a Columbus church... Read more →
March 21, 2023
Horace Bartine – New Jersey Soldier and Nevada Congressman
Grand Old Partisan salutes Horace Bartine, born March 21st 1848. Age fifteen, he enlisted in the 8th New Jersey Infantry. Surviving a gunshot wound during Battle of the Wilderness, he was present for Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Bartine relocated to... Read more →
March 20, 2023
David Harvey, first congressional delegate from Oklahoma Territory
Grand Old Partisan salutes David Harvey, born March 20th 1845. Age seven, he emigrated from Nova Scotia. Outbreak of civil war, he enlisted in the 4th Ohio Cavalry. His regiment battled through Tennessee and Georgia. Peace restored, the young Republican... Read more →
March 19, 2023
Warren Bristol – Minnesota GOP Co-Founder and New Mexico Judge
Grand Old Partisan honors Warren Bristol, born March 19th 1823. Within two years of settling in frontier Minnesota, the ambitious lawyer was elected county prosecutor. July 1855, he chaired the founding convention of the Minnesota GOP. He also was delegate... Read more →
March 18, 2023
An Act to Strengthen the Public Credit
Grand Old Partisan applauds Republican dedication to fiscal prudence. March 18th 1869, President Ulysses Grant signed the Public Credit Act. It had been sponsored by Senator John Sherman and passed by the GOP-controlled 41st Congress. People who had lent money... 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
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.”