Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I appreciate Republican foresight and compassion. August 14th 1912, William Howard Taft signed a bill establishing the United States Public Health Service. Formerly the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service, it was transformed into an agency with broader responsibilities and additional resources for research, disease prevention and education. This upgrade had been championed by the Surgeon General, Rupert Blue, whom the President had appointed earlier that year. 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...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I highlight the GOP’s leadership in facilitating technological progress. August 13th 1912, President William Howard Taft signed An Act to Regulate Radio Communication. Until then, radio communication had been largely unregulated, leaving broadcasters battling for frequencies and vulnerable to malicious interference. Known as the Radio Act of 1912, it originated when the GOP-controlled Senate, months earlier, ratified the Berlin Radiotelegraph Convention – and drafted implementing legislation.  Broadcasters would be licensed by the federal government. At first, two wavelengths were set aside for stations making broadcasts intended for a general audience: one for  entertainment with another for market and weather reports. Within a decade, there being more than five hundred stations, a need arose for better regulation. Commerce Secretary Herbert...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight one of the greatest Republicans ever. An ardent abolitionist, Thaddeus Stevens co-founded the GOP and championed its legislative agenda during the Civil War and into Reconstruction. Representative Stevens died August 11th 1868. Two days later, African-American soldiers escorted his body to the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Friends of freedom in their thousands viewed the casket. It was placed on the same catafalque used for President Abraham Lincoln. a famous tribute at the funeral: "God give to Vermont another son; Lancaster, another citizen; Pennsylvania, another statesman; the country, another patriot; the poor, another friend; the freedmen, another advocate; the race, another benefactor; and the world, another man like Thaddeus Stevens." Amen His remains were then taken home to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for burial. He...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Frederick Robie, born in Maine, August 12th 1822. He studied medicine in Philadelphia, then set up a successful practice back home. The good doctor won two state house terms. President Lincoln appointed him paymaster for the Army of the Potomac. Lieutenant Colonel Robie later served in the Gulf states and in Boston. Peace restored, he won terms in both legislative houses and rose to be speaker. He was delegate at the 1872 Republican National Convention. President Rutherford Hayes named him commissioner to the Paris Exposition. Robie was elected Governor in 1882, then re-elected. Later years focused on a bank, a railroad and an insurance company. "His integrity, honesty of purpose, and irreproachable character have never been questioned." Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Repu...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Alexander Hamilton Holley, born in Connecticut, August 12th 1804. He rose to lieutenant colonel of the state militia. Political activity started at the 1844 Whig National Convention. He headed the family's cutlery factory, while serving as director of a bank and a railroad. In 1854, joining the state GOP at its beginning, Holley was elected lieutenant governor, for a one-year term. Three years later, this anti-slavery activist won the governorship, again for a year. He backed Abraham Lincoln for the GOP's 1860 presidential nomination. 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 t...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Leonard Swett, born in Maine, August 11th 1825. Law studies followed army service during the Mexican War. After that, he relocated to Bloomington, Illinois. This prominent attorney rode the judicial circuit along with Abraham Lincoln. Swett co-founded the Illinois GOP, then served one state senate term. He was among close political allies who helped The Railsplitter win the 1860 Republican presidential nomination. Swett had no further political ambitions. Lincoln sent him to deliver a message relieving General Fremont from command at St. Louis. He later travelled to California on the President’s behalf. Later years focused on his law practice. 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...