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George Shoup, eminent Idaho Republican Statesman

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute George Shoup, born near Pittsburgh, June 15th 1836. Age twenty-three, the entrepreneur moved to Colorado. During the Civil War, he was scout, then officer with the territorial cavalry.  Peace restored, Shoup relocated to Idaho and became a successful merchant. His political career began as county commissioner and school superintendent. He first won election to the territorial legislature in 1874. He was delegate to the GOP’s 1880 national convention, followed by six years as Republican National Committeeman. President Chester Arthur named Shoup commissioner to the New Orleans World’s Fair. There, at his own expense, he promoted Idaho products. President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Territorial Governor. In 1890, statehood achieved, Shoup was elected Governor. Less than three month later, the legislature elected him Senator. ...
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Andrew Jackson Stevens, the first Republican National Committeeman for Iowa

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Andrew Jackson Stevens, co-founder of the Iowa GOP. He studied law in New York under supervision of William Seward. The ambitious Whig relocated to Des Moines in 1847 and taught school. Prospering as railroad and banking entrepreneur, Stevens served on a committee that named the counties. He was elected state auditor in 1854. His anti-slavery Iowa Citizen newspaper gave way to the Commonwealth newspaper for young Republicans. February 1856, Stevens attended the GOP's nationwide organizational meeting and was named national committeeman. He signed the call for the 1856 Republican National Convention and attended it as delegate. That year, Stevens financed a scientific expedition to Ecuador — yes, Ecuador. After brief service in the Union army, he was appointed consul in Italy. Later years found him in Nebraska and California. H...
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the first Radio Broadcast of a Presidential Speech

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I commemorate the first radio broadcast of a presidential speech. It happened June 14th 1922, at Fort McHenry Park, in Baltimore. Warren Harding dedicated a memorial to Francis Scott Key, author of the words for The Star Spangled Banner . City government coordinated with the War Department to transmit audio by telephone across the country, for re-transmission by radio. In this way, people nationwide could hear the President speak. He emphasized patriotism: " We have no rivalries in our devotion to the things we call American, because that is a common consecration." 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...
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Democrat Terrorist Shot Republican Congressman

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I denounce Democrat devilry. June 14th 2017, a volunteer for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign shot Representative Steve Scalise and several other people. The gunman intended to kill many Republicans as they practiced for the annual Congressional Baseball Game.  Fortunately, his victims survived and the deranged Democrat was killed by police. President Donald Trump said: "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected." He and Melania visited Scalise and an injured police officer in hospital. 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 fut...
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William Keim, from Whig Mayor to Republican Congressman to Union General

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute William Keim, born in Pennsylvania, June 13th 1813. He served as a militia officer after graduating from military school. In 1848, he was elected mayor of Reading. Keim joined the state GOP at its formation. December 1858, he won a special election for the final three months of a congressional term. Next, a Republican governor named him surveyor general. Outbreak of civil war, another Republican governor commissioned Keim a militia brigadier general. He commanded troops in Virginia. This patriotic officer died of typhus in May 1862. 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 ar...
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Theodore Roosevelt idolized Abraham Lincoln

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I note that Theodore Roosevelt idolized Abraham Lincoln. June 13th 1906, he wrote: "My great hero is Abraham Lincoln, and I have wanted while President to be the representative of the 'plain people' in the sense that he was — not, of course, with the genius and power that he was, but according to my own lights, along the same lines." Roosevelt fondly remembered, as a child, watching Lincoln’s funeral procession in New York City. 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...
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