Grand Old Partisan appreciates the American Red Cross. Clara Barton founded the organization in 1881 and led it more than twenty years. Toward the end of her tenure, bureaucratic mismanagement gave rise to the need for a more professional structure.
June 1900, the GOP-controlled 56th Congress approved a federal charter for the Red Cross, and President William McKinley signed it into law. Mandates included aiding war wounded, facilitating communications between military servicemen and their families, and alleviating natural disasters. Only the Red Cross could use the symbol of a red cross on a white background. Annual financial reports would have to be published.
Championing these reforms was Republican statesman James Tanner. He prevailed on the GOP-controlled 58th Congress to enact an improved charter. Notably, an executive committee was established, the chairman being named by the President. January 5th 1905, Theodore Roosevelt signed this federal charter into law. It is still in force today.
Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eF_HveAMShM
Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.
Each day, Michael Zak's grandoldpartisan YouTube channel and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than sixteen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far.
He also wrote the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar.
Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.
See www.youtube.com/q?v=IzxKCiXc5Qc for a brief video of a Texas Republican praising Back to Basics for the Republican Party.
"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!"
"Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP."
"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."
"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before."
and
"one of the best books I ever read"
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