Grand Old Partisan honors George Oliver, born January 26th 1848. He studied law after graduating from Bethany College, then settled at nearby Pittsburgh. There, he prospered in the steel industry. This conservative Republican purchased and merged three struggling newspapers. In... Read more →
January 26, 2022
January 25, 2022
Frank Cannon, one of Utah’s first two U.S. Senators
Grand Old Partisan honors Frank Cannon, born in Salt Lake City, January 25th 1859. His father was a Mormon leader. He started out as a newspaper reporter and editor. He co-founded the Utah Republican Party. In 1891, Cannon was elected... Read more →
January 24, 2022
Coles Bashford, the first Republican Governor of Wisconsin
Grand Old Partisan honors Coles Bashford, born in upstate New York, January 24th 1816. He was a county prosecutor for three years before moving to Wisconsin in 1850. Following year, he attended the Whig state convention and won election to... Read more →
January 23, 2022
the other Robert Kennedy
Grand Old Partisan salutes Robert Kennedy, born near Columbus, January 23rd 1840. Outbreak of civil war, he left Yale University and enlisted in the Union Army. Commanders recognized his administrative expertise with promotion from lieutenant to colonel. Heroism at the... Read more →
January 22, 2022
Alveda King, eminent Pro-Life Activist
Grand Old Partisan honors Alveda King, born in Atlanta, January 22nd 1951. Her father was Martin Luther King’s younger brother. She studied journalism and business management. In 1978, King won election to the state house, as a Democrat. She then... Read more →
January 21, 2022
all Confederates were Democrats
Grand Old Partisan laments that few Republicans remember what used to be common knowledge: the Confederates were DEMOCRATS, every single one of them. In fact, during and after the Civil War, most Republicans viewed the Confederacy as a Democratic Party... Read more →
January 20, 2022
Mamie Eisenhower popularized Pink as the Color for Girls
Grand Old Partisan spotlights the origin of a popular tradition, the color Pink being associated with girls. Mamie Eisenhower loved loved loved pink. She looked good dressed in pink. She decorated all her private residences in pink. Her pink gown... Read more →
January 19, 2022
Joseph Carey, the first U.S. Senator from Wyoming
Grand Old Partisan honors Joseph Carey, born January 19th 1845. After studying law at the University of Pennsylvania, the young Republican campaigned for Ulysses Grant. The new President named him U.S. Attorney for Wyoming. Two years later, he was appointed... Read more →
January 18, 2022
Rutherford Hayes eulogized by Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley
Grand Old Partisan highlights eulogies for Rutherford Hayes. This superb Republican died January 17th 1893. Following day, President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed thirty days of mourning: "He was a patriotic citizen, a lover of the flag and of our free institutions,... Read more →
January 17, 2022
William Thompson, meritorious Republican Soldier and Congressman
Grand Old Partisan salutes William Thompson, born near Pittsburgh, January 17th 1830. After studying law, the ambitious youth relocated to Iowa. He was elected county prosecutor, then state senator. During the Civil War, Thompson commanded a regiment in Missouri and... Read more →
January 16, 2022
Michael Shiner wrote the earliest known diary by an African-American resident of Washington, DC
Grand Old Partisan honors Michael Shiner, born on a Maryland slave plantation in 1805. The child witnessed the British invasion of Washington, DC. He later worked at the Washington Navy Yard, staying on after his master freed him at age... Read more →
January 15, 2022
the US-China Trade Agreement
Grand Old Partisan appreciates Republican resolve to protect the nation. January 15th 2020, Donald Trump signed a trade deal with China. Said the President, the world’s two largest economies were "righting the wrongs of the past and delivering a future... Read more →
January 14, 2022
John Edie, early Pennsylvania Republican Congressman and valiant Civil War Colonel
Grand Old Partisan salutes John Edie, born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on January 14th 1814. He was an elementary school principal, then studied law. While a state legislator, he was appointed deputy attorney general. In 1854, as an anti-slavery independent, Edie... Read more →
January 13, 2022
Isaac Myers, trailblazing Black trade unionist
Grand Old Partisan honors Isaac Myers, born in Maryland, January 13th 1835. His parents were free Blacks. His profession was ship caulker. After the Civil War, the return of military veterans cost many Black caulkers their jobs. In response, he... Read more →
January 12, 2022
Thaddeus Stevens Pfeiffer, martyred namesake of a Republican Hero
Grand Old Partisan salutes Thaddeus Stevens Pfeiffer, born in Pennsylvania, January 12th 1840. His father named him for close friend Thaddeus Stevens, the heroic Republican Congressman. Outbreak of civil war, Pfeiffer recruited a company of volunteers and enlisted as their... 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.”