Grand Old Partisan commemorates the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Democrat Senator Stephen Douglas, who had written a law extending slavery into the western territories, accepted the Republican nominee's challenge. The contenders had already faced off in Springfield and Chicago, so there would... Read more →
October 07, 2024
October 06, 2024
Republicans established the Naval War College
Grand Old Partisan spotlights the Naval War College. This venerable institution "educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associated roles and missions, supports combat readiness, and strengthens global maritime partnerships." October 6th 1884, President Chester Arthur’s Navy... Read more →
October 05, 2024
Frank Hitchcock, accomplished RNC Chairman and Postmaster General
Grand Old Partisan lauds Frank Hitchcock, born October 5th 1867. He studied at Harvard and George Washington University Law School. Membership in the Audubon Society led to friendship with Theodore Roosevelt. Hitchcock worked at the Agriculture Department during the McKinley... Read more →
October 04, 2024
Gladys Pyle, first Republican Woman Elected to the U.S. Senate
Grand Old Partisan honors Gladys Pyle, born in South Dakota, October 4th 1890. After college, she taught at various high schools. Her father was a Republican state attorney general, her mother a prominent suffragist. Pyle became South Dakota’s first woman... Read more →
October 03, 2024
Timothy Thomas Fortune, influential Civil Rights Pioneer and Journalist
Grand Old Partisan honors Timothy Thomas Fortune, born in Florida, October 3rd 1856. His parents were slaves. He studied at a school named for President Lincoln’s Secretary of War, then at Howard University. His father, a Republican state legislator, apprenticed... Read more →
October 02, 2024
Leonard Hall, respected and successful RNC Chairman
Grand Old Partisan appreciates Leonard Hall, born October 2nd 1900, at the home of Theodore Roosevelt. His father was the Vice President’s coachman. After graduating from Georgetown University Law School, he settled in New York City. Hall’s political career began... Read more →
October 01, 2024
Michel Vidal, immigrant Republican Congressman and Diplomat
Grand Old Partisan honors Michel Vidal, born in France, October 1st 1824. After college, this ambitious youth emigrated to the Texas Republic then moved to Louisiana. He edited several French-language newspapers. After the Civil War, General Sheridan appointed him voting... Read more →
September 30, 2024
Minnie Grinstead – first woman in the Kansas legislature
Grand Old Partisan honors Minnie Grinstead, born in Kansas, September 30th 1869. After earning a teaching certificate, she taught school and worked her way up to principal. In 1896, the local GOP nominated her for county supervisor of public instruction.... Read more →
September 29, 2024
the Democrat President, Andrew Johnson, mocked for collaborating with ex-Confederates
Grand Old Partisan spotlights a classic political cartoon. September 29th 1866, Harper's Weekly magazine ridiculed the "Tearful Convention". Page 83 of Back to Basics for the Republican Party explains that selecting a Democrat as his 1864 running mate was the... Read more →
September 28, 2024
Ulysses Grant – "Reasons for Being a Republican"
Grand Old Partisan highlights Ulysses Grant calling for party unity. September 28th 1880, he and other Republican luminaries gathered near the home of presidential nominee James Garfield. Addressing a crowd of forty thousand, he explained the Reasons for being a... Read more →
September 27, 2024
Frederick Billings, prominent Republican Financier and Philanthropist
Grand Old Partisan honors Frederick Billings, born September 27th 1823. After studying law at the University of Vermont, he moved to California for the Gold Rush. His energetic patriotism contributed to saving the Golden State for the Union. This talented... Read more →
September 26, 2024
Edward Anderson – Black Republican Entrepreneur and Civil Rights Trailblazer
Grand Old Partisan honors Edward Anderson, born in Kentucky, September 26th 1871. His parents had been slaves. Moving to California, he worked himself up to proprietor of a steam laundry with dozens of employees. Additional business successes included a ranch... Read more →
September 25, 2024
Joseph Gravely – Colonel and Congressman and Lieutenant Governor
Grand Old Partisan salutes Joseph Gravely, born in Virginia, September 25th 1828. He studied law and served in the state house. Ambition then led him westward, to Missouri. Gravely opposed slavery and secession at the 1861 constitutional convention. He next... Read more →
September 24, 2024
the Devil’s Tower
Grand Old Partisan spotlights Devil’s Tower, the spectacular monolith in Wyoming. September 24th 1906, Theodore Roosevelt designated it the first National Monument. Suggesting that he take this action was Frank Mondell, the state’s Republican Congressman. Granting him the power was... Read more →
September 23, 2024
Simon Conover, first Republican National Committeeman from Florida
Grand Old Partisan honors Simon Conover, born September 23rd 1840. He studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Nashville. Enlisting in the Union Army, he was assigned to Florida. Conover was delegate at the 1868 constitutional... 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.”
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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.”