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John Pettit, early Indiana Republican Congressman

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute John Pettit, born near Syracuse, September 11th 1820. The ambitious young man moved to Indiana after studying law. President Millard Fillmore named him to a diplomatic post in Brazil. Returning home after three years, he joined the People’s Party, an anti-slavery forerunner of the GOP. In 1854, Pettit won first of three term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Outbreak of civil war, he recruited a regiment of volunteers and served as their colonel during training. As a Republican, he was elected speaker of the state house. Next came eight years on the state bench. 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 YouTu...
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Eisenhower televised the first Presidential Campaign Ads

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I highlight Republican innovations, such as the political TV commericial. At beginning of the television era, candidates had aired lengthy speeches. Something new, however, was required for Dwight Eisenhower, a man of action not words. September 11th 1952, the GOPs presidential nominee recorded thirty-one commercials. In each 20-second Eisenhower Answers America , the general replied to a question posed by an ordinary citizen. Genius! He was filmed alone, in an empty studio, with nothing to distract viewers, and from a slightly low angle. Voters asking questions were filmed looking up, to someone of great stature. one advertisement: " It’s time for a change." another: " It’s time to get back to an honest dollar and an honest dollar’ s work." and another: "Washington Corruption" Using television effectively, Republicans bypassed Democrat politica...
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Founding of the Mississippi Republican Party

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Grand Old Partisan commemorates the founding of the Mississippi GOP. September 10th 1867, friends of freedom convened at Jackson to establish the Mississippi Republican Party. They called on people throughout the state "to effect a thorough organization of the party. Nominate your candidates, and open the campaign." Leading this effort was Jefferson Wofford, one of the few ex-Confederate officers to abandon the Democratic Party. Alston Mygatt, a northern-born Methodist preacher who had been residing in Vicksburg two decades before the Civil War, presided. He would go on to chair the state constitutional convention and serve in the legislature. Assisting him was Union army  George McKee, who would later be a congressman. A third of the delegates were African-American. their platform: First—Resolved, That we do cordially approve all the principles of the National Republican Party. Second—Resolved, That we pledge ourselves...
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John Lynch, up from slavery to Republican Congressman and Civil Rights Hero

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Grand Old Partisan salutes John Roy Lynch, born into slavery, September 10th 1847. He and his mother were sold away from Louisiana to Mississippi. They were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. Self-educated, he became a successful businessman in Natchez. The Republican governor named him a justice of the peace in 1869. Later that year, Lynch first won election to the Mississippi state house. During his final term, party colleagues elected him Speaker. Age twenty-six, he won the first of two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Eloquent was his support for the GOP's 1875 Civil Rights Act: "The opposition to civil rights in the South therefore is confined almost exclusively to States under democratic control, or States where the Legislature had failed or refused to pass a civil-rights bill." "I appeal to all the members of the House – Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals – to join with us in the passage of this bill,...
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the U.S. Board on Geographic Names

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I  highlight the GOP’s leading role in establishing and maintaining uniform usage of geographical names throughout the country. January 1890, superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for the Benjamin Harrison administration suggested a board from various government agencies to rule on disputes about place names. September 4th, the President issued an executive order to create the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. President Theodore Roosevelt broadened its scope to improve upon existing names. August 2026, President Donald Trump directed the Board to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. 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 ww...
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Alf Landon – "the living soul of Kansas" and 1936 Republican presidential nominee

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Alfred Landon, born September 9th 1887. He moved with his family to Kansas at age seventeen and graduated from the state university. The savvy entrepreneur prospered drilling for oil. Political involvement with Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive Party. Landon went on to be private secretary for a Republican governor and chair the state GOP. He was elected governor in 1932 and re-elected two years later. While cutting taxes, his administration generally endorsed the New Deal but opposed its excesses. Landon was the 1936 Republican presidential nominee. Though he lost badly, his criticism of FDR speaks to us today: "In my opinion the emergency of 1933 was a mere excuse. National economic planning – the term used by this Administration to describe its policy – violates the basic ideals of the American system. The price of econo...
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Clarence Emir Allen, the first Utah Congressman after Statehood

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I  honor Charles Emir Allen, born September 8th 1852. While pitching for Case Western Reserve University, he introduced the curveball at the collegiate level. Age twenty-eight, he settled at Salt Lake City to accept a teaching position. This talented businessman soon prospered in the mining sector, rising from assayer to company manager. Allen entered politics with several terms in the state house. He wrote the bill establishing Utah’s public school system. Next step was two years as county clerk. He attended two Republican National Conventions. Statehood achieved, he won  election to the U.S. House of Representatives. 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.gra...
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