Grand Old Partisan honors Isaac Murphy, born October 16th 1799. After several years practicing law in Pennsylvania, he relocated to Tennessee. There, his father-in-law disowned him for opposing slavery. In 1834, the couple settled in Arkansas. Murphy entered politics as... Read more →
October 16, 2021
October 15, 2021
President Coolidge declared the Statue of Liberty to be a National Monument
Grand Old Partisan highlights Republican respect for our nation’s heritage. October 15th 1924, President Calvin Coolidge declared the Statue of Liberty to be a national monument. His proclamation cited the Antiquities Act, passed by the GOP-controlled 59th Congress. Here is... Read more →
October 14, 2021
William Stone, patriotic Co-Founder of the Iowa Republican Party
Grand Old Partisan salutes William Stone, born in upstate New York, October 14th 1827. His career began as mule team driver and apprentice furniture maker. He later practiced law in Ohio for three years before relocating to frontier Iowa in... Read more →
October 13, 2021
Benjamin Franklin Leiter, anti-slavery Co-Founder of the Ohio Republican Party
Grand Old Partisan honors Benjamin Franklin Leiter, born October 13th 1813. He taught school, then became an attorney. He was mayor of Canton, Ohio ten years and speaker of the state house one year. March 1854, at a convention that... Read more →
October 12, 2021
Theodore Roosevelt stressed the importance of National Unity
Grand Old Partisan applauds Republican commitment to national unity. October 12th 1915, Theodore Roosevelt addressed the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization. He stressed the importance of ensuring that immigrants consider themselves to be Americans, first and only: ”There... Read more →
October 11, 2021
Henry Waldron – a Founding Father of Hillsdale, Michigan
Grand Old Partisan honors Henry Waldron, born in upstate New York, October 11th 1819. After studying civil engineering, he relocated to Michigan. The enterprising young man settled at Hillsdale and promoted construction of a railroad which connected the town to... Read more →
October 10, 2021
Sophia Holmes, first African-American Woman employed by the Federal Government
Grand Old Partisan honors Sophia Holmes, born in Washington DC around 1830. She was a free African-American whose birthdate was not recorded. Her husband, an emancipated slave, was killed at the first battle of the Civil War. James Wilson, a... Read more →
October 09, 2021
Myron Herrick, prominent Republican Financier and Governor and Ambassador
Grand Old Partisan honors Myron Herrick, born in Ohio, October 9th 1854. The talented attorney started out working for a bank, rising to be its president. He founded prominent corporations including Union Carbide and Quaker Oats. His political career began... Read more →
October 08, 2021
President Reagan dedicated a Statue of Christopher Columbus
Grand Old Partisan highlights Republican respect for our nation’s heritage. October 8th 1984, in Baltimore, Ronald Reagan dedicated a statue of Christopher Columbus. Its marble base featured his three ships – the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María –... Read more →
October 07, 2021
the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush
Grand Old Partisan appreciates a powerful warship named for a Republican President. October 7th 2006, the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush was christened. It had already been under construction three years. The ceremony took place at Newport News, Virginia.... Read more →
October 06, 2021
Jacob Trieber, the first Jewish Federal Judge
"one of the very ablest and most conservative Republicans of the state and has at all times labored for the true principles of Republicanism" Grand Old Partisan honors Jacob Trieber, born in Poland, October 6th 1853. Age thirteen, he immigrated... Read more →
October 05, 2021
Levi Baxter, Chairman of the first Republican State Convention
"a man of large discernment and excellent judgement; of much social, political, and industrial influence" Grand Old Partisan honors Levi Baxter, born October 5th 1788. Opportunities in the lumber industry drew him from western New York to southern Michigan, at... Read more →
October 04, 2021
a splendid statue of Rutherford Hayes
Grand Old Partisan spotlights a memorial to our nation’s 19th President. In his hometown of Delaware, Ohio there stands a bronze statue of Rutherford Hayes. It was unveiling at a ceremony on October 4th 2019. The chief fundraiser said of... Read more →
October 03, 2021
President Ronald Reagan established Minority Enterprise Development Week
Grand Old Partisan acclaims Republican commitment to racial harmony. October 3rd 1983, Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Minority Enterprise Development Week. This observance recognizes the achievements of minority business people. In the East Room of the White House, the President... Read more →
October 02, 2021
Leonard Hall, effective RNC Chairman
Grand Old Partisan honors Leonard Hall, born on Long Island, October 2nd 1900. Age twenty-six, the ambitious attorney became a state representative. This was followed by two years as county sheriff. In 1938, he won the first of seven terms... 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.”