Grand Old Partisan honors Edwin Crocker, born in upstate New York, April 26th 1818. Law studies followed working as a civil engineer. This noted abolitionist attended Liberty Party and Free Soil Party conventions. Crocker relocated to California. March 8th 1856,... Read more →
April 26, 2025
April 25, 2025
the Spanish-American War begins
Grand Old Partisan recalls the Spanish-American War. At the request of President William McKinley, Congress declared war on April 25th 1898. Key to swift victory was the naval modernization program – with coal-fired, big-gun, all-steel ships – begun fifteen years... Read more →
April 24, 2025
John Stover – Pennsylvania Colonel and Missouri Congressman
Grand Old Partisan salutes John Stover, born April 24th 1833. He published a newspaper and was elected county attorney. During the Civil War, this patriot served in three Pennsylvania regiments, rising to colonel. Union restored, Stover relocated to Missouri and... Read more →
April 23, 2025
Winthrop Murray Crane, mentor of Calvin Coolidge
"well-loved in Massachusetts, winning six elections without making a single speech" Grand Old Partisan honors Winthrop Murray Crane, born in Massachusetts, April 23rd 1853. His factory supplied paper for printing U.S. currency – and still does. Five times he served... Read more →
April 22, 2025
Republicans put In God We Trust on U.S. Money
Grand Old Partisan highlights the 1864 Coinage Act. It was passed by the GOP-controlled 38th Congress and signed by President Lincoln on April 22nd. This law authorized a two-cent coin with "In God We Trust" – first instance of the... Read more →
April 21, 2025
Lyne Metcalfe, patriotic Missouri Congressman
Grand Old Partisan salutes Lyne Metcalfe, born in Kentucky, April 21st 1822. He attended college in Illinois and was mayor of Alton. His food processing business became successful. During the Civil War, Metcalfe put his expertise to use as quartermaster,... Read more →
April 20, 2025
Republicans defeated the Ku Klux Klan
Grand Old Partisan commemorates the 1871 Civil Rights Act. It was passed by the GOP-controlled 42nd Congress and signed by a Republican President on April 20th. Alarmed by Democrat savagery, particularly in South Carolina, President Grant had requested the legislation.... Read more →
April 19, 2025
the first DC Emancipation parade
Grand Old Partisan spotlights the first DC Emancipation Day commemoration. April 19th 1866, thousands of Blacks marched to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the law – passed by Republican Congressmen and signed by a Republican President – that ended slavery... Read more →
April 18, 2025
Chloe Merrick Reed – "Freedom’s First Lady"
Grand Old Partisan honors Chloe Merrick, born near Syracuse, April 18th 1832. Her profession was school teacher. During the Civil War, abolitionist sentiments led to working for the Freedmen’s Bureau in Florida. There she met Harrison Reed, whom President Lincoln... Read more →
April 17, 2025
Jeremiah Dwight – New York Congressman and North Dakota Investor
Grand Old Partisan honors Jeremiah Dwight, born in New York, April 17th 1819. His business ventures included farming, factories and lumber. He served in the state house. During the Civil War, a Republican governor appointed him to oversee military recruitment.... Read more →
April 16, 2025
the first presidential trip to the western states
Grand Old Partisan commemorates the first presidential trip to the western United States. April 16th 1873, Ulysses Grant and wife Julia departed Washington for a two-week excursion. They visited their property in Missouri before proceeding to Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska.... Read more →
April 15, 2025
Francis Springer, pioneering Iowa Republican
Grand Old Partisan honors Francis Springer, born in Maine, April 15th 1811. Moving to frontier Iowa, this ambitious lawyer was elected territorial legislator. Upon statehood, he won a state senate term. The Taylor/Fillmore administration named to him various local positions.... Read more →
April 14, 2025
Lieutenant Bob Dole and the letter M for Morphine
Grand Old Partisan spotlights the heroism of Bob Dole. April 14th 1945 – while battling Nazis in Italy – he was severely wounded while trying to rescue another soldier. Before losing consciousness, this courageous lieutenant managed to pull two others... Read more →
April 13, 2025
Perry Carson – "the voice of working-class black Washingtonians"
Grand Old Partisan honors Perry Carson, born a free Black, April 13th 1842. While in Baltimore, this courageous teen helped abolitionists protect escaped slaves. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the 24th U.S. Colored Infantry. His regiment had the... Read more →
April 12, 2025
William Kelley, yet another Republican civil rights hero
Grand Old Partisan honors William Kelley, born in Philadelphia, April 12th 1814. He supported himself as errand boy, newspaper proofreader and jewelery enameler. Extensive reading facilitated a successful legal career. His talent soon led to being named prosecutor and judge.... Read more →
TikTok
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my Grand Old Partisan videos, available on TikTok
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.”
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Each day, my Grand Old Partisan blog celebrates more than sixteen decades of Republican heroes and heroics.
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.”