Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Lewis Tappan, born in Massachusetts, May 23rd 1788. Along with his brother, the savvy entrepreneur formed a credit rating agency later merged into Dun & Bradstreet. He co-founded the American Missionary Association and the American Anti-Slavery Society, as well as Oberlin College. Tappan was in the Liberty Party and the Free Soil Party, forerunners of the GOP. He wrote articles for The Emancipator newspaper that helped win freedom for slaves in the 'Amistad' case. His wealth financed another newspaper, the anti-slavery National Era . May 1856, he took part in the meeting of congressmen who first declared themselves to be Republicans. Twice, Abraham Lincoln received his vote. Tappan declared: "When will the poor negro have his rights? Not, I believe, until he has a musket in one hand and a ballot in the other." Peace resto...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I highlight the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 1911, President William Howard Taft called for a "central organization in touch with associations and chambers of commerce throughout the country and able to keep purely American interests in a closer touch with different phases of commercial affairs." Within months, hundreds of delegates from commercial and trade organizations established the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Construction of the headquarters building, across from the White House, began on May 16th 1922, with laying a cornerstone. Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover keynoted the ceremony. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandol...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I appreciate Republican respect for the environment. May 22nd 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation establishing Crater Lake National Park.  The bill had been drafted by Republican Representative Thomas Tongue and passed by the GOP-controlled 57th Congress. Champions of preserving the area were two local Republicans, naturalist William Steel and judge John Waldo. Oregon's sole national park contains a scenic wonder. Crater Lake is one of the world's deepest as well as one of the most beautiful. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandoldpartisan.com .  Here is a YouTube Video about this article. Here is a TikTok ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I applaud our party’s reverence for civil rights. May 21st 1919, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives approved a constitutional amendment granting women the vote. Eighty-five percent of Republicans were in favor, contrasted with merely fifty-four percent of Democrats. The bill had been introduced by an Illinois Republican, James Mann. It was the first measure passed by Republicans after they won control of Congress in the 1918 midterm elections. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandoldpartisan.com .  Here is a YouTube Video about this article. Here is a TikTok Video about this article. Here is an Instagram Video about this artic...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Thaddeus Mahon, born in Pennsylvania, May 21st 1840. His initial training was to be a blacksmith. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War, surviving a grave wound. Peace restored, this young Republican studied law and was elected county clerk. Vowing to protect the rights of African-Americans, he won two terms in the state house. In 1876, a difference of merely twenty-five votes cost him a congressional seat. Mahon promoted local businesses. A railroad named him its president. In 1892, he won first of seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Receiving his vote were the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act, the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, t...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Frances Willis, born in Illinois, May 20th 1899. She earned an undergraduate degree in history and a Ph.D. in political science – both from Stanford University. In 1927, she became the third woman to join the Foreign Service. Her overseas career began in Chile, followed by Sweden and Belgium and Spain and Britain. Willis was Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy Finland. July 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower named her Ambassador to Switzerland. She continued with ambassadorships to Norway and to Sri Lanka. November 1973, the American Foreign Service Association awarded her the Foreign Service Cup for "outstanding contribution to the conduct of foreign relations of the United States." In 2006, the George W. Bush administration depicted her on a postage stamp. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history...