Grand Old Partisan salutes Theodore Penland. Outbreak of civil war, this patriotic teen enlisted in the 152nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His regiment deployed to West Virginia. Union restored, Penland settled in Oregon. Throughout many decades, he remained active with the... Read more →
September 13, 2024
September 12, 2024
Democrat Traitors Arrested
Grand Old Partisan deplores Democrat dishonor. September 1861, Slavery Party politicians conspired to assist Confederate troops intending to invade Maryland. An uprising staged by the mayor of Baltimore was to divert Union soldiers away from Washington, enabling seizure of the... Read more →
September 11, 2024
Daniel Dickinson, nearly Lincoln’s Vice President
Grand Old Partisan honors Daniel Dickinson, born September 11th 1800. He was elected Mayor of Binghamton, New York then State Senator then Lieutenant Governor. In 1844, a Democrat Governor appointed him to a U.S. Senate vacancy, followed by a full... Read more →
September 10, 2024
Coolidge praising Lincoln
Grand Old Partisan spotlights the 30th President praising the 16th. Summer of 1927, Calvin Coolidge and wife Grace vacationed in the Black Hills. September 10th, they arrived at South Dakota State College. There, the President dedicated Lincoln Memorial Library, the... Read more →
September 09, 2024
William Stokes – Colonel of the 5th (U.S.) Tennessee Cavalry
Grand Old Partisan salutes William Stokes, born September 9th 1814. Age four, the family moved from North Carolina to Tennessee. As a Whig, he won election to the state house and senate. In 1858, as an independent, this opponent of... Read more →
September 08, 2024
the first presidential visit to the west coast
Grand Old Partisan spotlights the first presidential visit to the west coast. September 8th 1880, Rutherford Hayes arrived in San Francisco. Accompanying him were wife Lucy, General William Sherman and Secretary of War Alexander Ramsey. They had been aboard the... Read more →
September 07, 2024
Christopher Payne, first Black state legislator in West Virginia
Grand Old Partisan honors Christopher Payne, born in West Virginia to former slaves, September 7th 1848. His career started as teacher, then Baptist minister. The three newspapers he published stressed racial quality and the importance of education. This proud "Lincoln... Read more →
September 06, 2024
John Bricker, venerable Ohio Statesman
Grand Old Partisan salutes John Bricker, born September 6th 1893. He studied law at Ohio State University and served as lieutenant during WWI. Being named assistant attorney general in 1923 started his political career. Appointment to the public utilities commission... Read more →
September 05, 2024
Birth of the Pennsylvania Republican Party
Grand Old Partisan commemorates founding of the Pennsylvania Republican Party. November 1854, anti-slavery activists gathered in Towanda at the home of David Wilmot. This former Congressman urged them to establish Republican organizations in their counties. Attendees included Alexander McClure, who... Read more →
September 04, 2024
Henry Clay Caldwell, the first Republican Federal Judge in Arkansas
Grand Old Partisan salutes Henry Clay Caldwell, born September 4th 1832. Public service began in Iowa, as county prosecutor then state representative. Colleagues appreciated his "homespun populist philosophy and extreme sense of judicial fairness." Outbreak of civil war, a Republican... Read more →
September 03, 2024
John Hanna, the first U.S. Attorney for Indiana
Grand Old Partisan praises John Hanna, born near Indianapolis, September 3rd 1827. He studied law, then moved to Kansas. While in the legislature, he introduced a bill that effectively banned slavery. Returning to Indiana, Hanna cast an electoral vote for... Read more →
September 02, 2024
founding of the Utah Republican Party
Grand Old Partisan spotlights origin of the Utah Republican Party. September 2nd 1891, Republicans gathered in Salt Lake City to establish a territorial GOP. Venue was the federal room at the court house. County conventions had elected delegates days earlier.... Read more →
September 01, 2024
Calvin Coolidge explaining Labor Day
Grand Old Partisan highlight a classic speech by President Calvin Coolidge. September 1st 1924, he explained the true meaning of Labor Day: "I cannot think of anything that represents the American people as a whole so adequately as honest work.... Read more →
August 31, 2024
John Nixon, early New Jersey Republican Congressman and Federal Judge
Grand Old Partisan honors John Nixon, born in New Jersey, August 31st 1820. He studied law after graduating from Princeton. His political career began, as a Whig, in the state house, rising to be speaker. In 1858, Nixon won first... Read more →
August 30, 2024
Ely Parker, the first Native American to be Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Grand Old Partisan salutes Ely Parker, born in upstate New York to Seneca Indian parents. Graduating from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, this "extraordinary intelligent" man worked as a civil engineer at canals and other infrastructure projects. Outbreak of civil war,... 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.”
[email protected]
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.”