Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I admire Helen Keller. Blind and deaf since infancy, she overcame this tragedy to become a pioneering advocate for the handicapped. Dwight Eisenhower appreciated her visiting with disabled veterans. November 3rd 1953, the President welcomed Keller to the White House. He was brought to tears as the great lady touched his face. Afterward, she said: "I felt the courage and thought that carried him through such great years of the world’s history." Eisenhower sent a congratulatory letter for Keller's 75th birthday, praising her " great gifts of mind and heart" as an "enduring inspiration." 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 infor...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I highlight the Resolute Desk. Presidents have used it since 1880. November 2nd of that year, an unexpected gift arrived at the White House. Inside a large crate was a magnificent, beautiful desk. Rutherford Hayes noticed a brass plaque that read: "Presented by the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland to the President of the United States" In 1852, the HMS Resolute became trapped in Arctic ice. Several years later, an American ship found it. Returned to Britain, the ship was eventually broken up for salvage. The desk had been made from its oak timbers. FDR had the front panel added, to hide his leg braces. 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 mo...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I recall the political views of Mark Twain. November 2nd 1880, he made a speech which the press called "a funeral oration for the Democratic Party." Republicans were celebrating victory for the Garfield/Arthur ticket. His somber delivery, contrasting with the evening's exuberance, delighted the crowd: "The burden of the mourni ng is The aged and stricken Democratic Party is dying and the burden of the lament will be The mighty is fallen; the Democratic party is dead . And who and what is he that is dying and will presently be dead? A foot sore political wanderer, a honorary political tramp, an itinerant poor actor familiar with many disguises, a butcher of many parts." This great novelist had campaigned for the GOP in the previous presidential election. He went on to publish the memoirs of Ulysses Grant. Unfortunate...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Boies Penrose, born in Philadelphia, November 1st 1860. He studied law after graduating from Harvard. This young Republican was elected to the state house at age twenty-four and rose to be president pro tempore of the state senate. In 1897, the legislature elected him a U.S. Senator. He held major influence over banking and finance. The Pennsylvania GOP named him Chairman and then National Committeeman. Penrose backed William Howard Taft over Theodore Roosevelt for the 1912 presidential nomination and helped Warren Harding secure the 1920 nomination. Death for the mighty conservative came early during his fifth term. 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 the...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Charles Hamilton, born near Harrisburg, November 1st 1840. During the Civil War, he served with the 5th Pennsylvania Infantry and the general staff. Peace restored, the War Department assigned Hamilton to help emancipated slaves in Florida. A reputation for "efficiency and just administration" merited praise from the local GOP. In 1868, Hamilton won first of two congressional terms. He voted to outlaw the Ku Klux Klan. President Grant later named him postmaster at Jacksonville and collector of customs at Key West. He died age at thirty-four. 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 articl...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Joseph Hawley, born in October 31st 1826. The family moved from North Carolina to Connecticut. Law studies followed graduation from Hamilton College. He was delegate for the 1852 Free Soil national convention, and chaired the state party and edited its newspaper. In 1856, this abolitionist led efforts to establish the Connecticut GOP, then became editor of a Republican newspaper later merged with the Hartford Courant . Outbreak of civil war, Hawley enlisted as captain with the state's 1st Volunteer Infantry. Gallantry merited promotion to commanding a brigade which included the 8th U.S. Colored Troops. Peace restored, he was elected Governor. He chaired the 1868 Republican National Convention and was delegate for the next three conventions. In 1872, Hawley won election to a vacant U.S. House of Representatives seat, followed by two more te...