Grand Old Partisan spotlights the National Civil Rights Convention. December 9th 1873, one hundred seventy-five Black delegates gathered at an auditorium in Washington, DC. They urged a continuation of Reconstruction efforts to protect former slaves from their Democrat oppressors. Their... Read more →
December 09, 2024
December 08, 2024
George Christopher, the last Republican Mayor of San Francisco
Grand Old Partisan honors George Christopher, born December 8th 1907. Immigrating from Greece at age two, he settled with his family in San Francisco. His early career was accountant, then proprietor of a dairy. This enterprising Republican served on the... Read more →
December 07, 2024
Hugh McCulloch, first Comptroller of the Currency
Grand Old Partisan extols Hugh McCulloch, born December 7th 1808. After studying law in Boston, he relocated to Fort Wayne. Financial expertise and hard work led to heading the Bank of Indiana. February 1863, the GOP-controlled 37th Congress passed a... Read more →
December 06, 2024
William Sewell, heroic New Jersey Senator
Grand Old Partisan salutes William Sewell, born in Ireland, December 6th 1835. The enterprising orphan immigrated at fifteen. Merchandising was his early career. Outbreak of civil war, Sewell recruited volunteers and enlisted as captain with the 5th New Jersey Infantry.... Read more →
December 05, 2024
Paul Howland – Standout at the first Congressional Baseball Game
Grand Old Partisan salutes Paul Howard, born near Cleveland, December 5th 1865. He studied at Oberlin College and Harvard Law School. This patriot served as lieutenant with the 1st Ohio Volunteer Cavalry during the Spanish-American War. Howard won three congressional... Read more →
December 04, 2024
Henry Bingham, last Member of Congress who served in the Union Army
"patriotic citizen, brave and gallant soldier, wise councilor, faithful servant of the people" Grand Old Partisan salutes Henry Bingham, born in Philadelphia, December 4th 1841. During the Civil War, this patriotic attorney rose to colonel of the 140th Pennsylvania Volunteer... Read more →
December 03, 2024
Cleveland Abbe, first Chief Meteorologist of the U.S. Weather Bureau
Grand Old Partisan honors Cleveland Abbe, born December 3rd 1838. He studied engineering at the University of Michigan. Bad eyesight preventing service in the Union Army, he worked for the U.S. Coast Survey, then the U.S. Naval Observatory. While director... Read more →
December 02, 2024
Alvin Hawkins – Tennessee’s first Republican Governor after Reconstruction
Grand Old Partisan commends Alvin Hawkins, born December 2nd 1821. This ambitious lawyer won a term in the state house and backed John Bell, a fellow Tennesseean, for president in 1860. Hawkins opposed secession, and during the Civil War served... Read more →
December 01, 2024
Ford goes to China
Grand Old Partisan commemorates President Gerald Ford's visit to China. He arrived there December 1st 1975, to "build on the dialog" started by President Richard Nixon's visit nearly four years earlier. He met briefly with an ailing Chairman Mao, but... Read more →
November 30, 2024
Abraham Lincoln visiting Kansas
Grand Old Partisan highlights Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Kansas. His campaign for the 1860 Republican presidential nomination began well before the national convention. November 30th 1859, he crossed by ferry from St. Joseph, Missouri to the Sunflower State. Speaking at... Read more →
November 29, 2024
Morrison Waite, revered Chief Justice of the United States
"just what the Supreme Court needed at the time" Grand Old Partisan honors Morrison Waite, born November 29th 1816. Law studies near Toledo followed graduation from Yale. This anti-slavery Whig won election to the legislature. He co-founded the Ohio GOP,... Read more →
November 28, 2024
a Democrat Congressman designed the Confederate Flag
Grand Old Partisan shines a light on the Slavery Party. Months into the Civil War, rebels realized that their 'Stars and Bars' flag was too similar to Old Glory for effective use in warfare. William Porcher Miles, a Democrat former... Read more →
November 27, 2024
John McCarl, first Comptroller General of the United States
Grand Old Partisan honors John McCarl, born in a log cabin near Des Moines, November 27th 1879. After studying law at the University of Nebraska, he worked for Republican Senator George Norris. Representative Simeon Fess named him head of the... Read more →
November 26, 2024
Theodore Roosevelt at the Twelfth Street Colored YMCA in Washington, DC
Grand Old Partisan highlights Republican dedication to improving the lives of Black youth. November 26th 1908, Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Twelfth Street Colored YMCA Building in Washington, DC. The institution had been founded by Black Republican civil... Read more →
November 25, 2024
Republican Joseph Cooper fought against the Democrat Ku Klux Klan
Grand Old Partisan salutes Joseph Cooper, born November 25th 1823. During war against Mexico, he served in the 4th Tennessee Infantry. Back home, his focus turned to agriculture. Cooper attended the East Tennessee Convention, which opposed secession. Outbreak of civil... 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.”