Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Edith Abbott, born September 26th 1876. Her father was a Republican Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska. After graduating from the state university, she received a Ph.D from University of Chicago. Studies continued at London School of Economics and Political Science. She taught at Wellesley College a year, then returned to Chicago. Abbott worked with social reformer Jane Addams at Hull House. Soon, a Republican mayor named her to lead the Children's Division of the city’s Welfare Department. Years later, President Herbert Hoover appointed her to the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement. Abbott was affiliated with The Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy, at the University of Chicago. There, in 1924, she became the first woman dean of an American graduate school. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I commemorate the Soldiers and Sailors Convention. It began on September 25th 1866, in Pittsburgh. Union Army and Navy veterans, who had defeated the Confederacy, were angry to see Andrew Johnson, the Democrat President, allying with the former rebels. Led by General Jacob Cox, the Republican Governor of Ohio, friends of freedom gathered to support the GOP and its civil rights agenda. James Negley, a nother former General, chaired the arrangements committee. This steadfast Republican later won three terms in Congress. Five thousand people assembled under an immense tent, with another twenty thousand outside. A parade and a choir and a band provided entertainment before the speeches. The keynote address was delivered by Edwin Dudley. He had resigned from a Treasury Department job when refused three days off to attend the event. The former private thun...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Joseph Gravely, born in Virginia, September 25th 1828. He studied law while tending to his farm, then won election to the state house. Gravely relocated to Missouri and participated in an 1860 constitutional convention. During the Civil War, this Republican state senator commanded the 8th Militia Cavalry. Peace restored, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Highlights of his term included voting for the 15th Amendment and several Reconstruction Acts. In 1870, Gravely was elected Lieutenant Governor. He died after serving fifteen months, age forty-three. 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 ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight the first time in a century that a presidential nominee campaigned in Mississippi. September 24th 1960, Richard Nixon addressed thousands of supporters at Jackson as well as radio and television audiences. Speaking from the steps of the governor’s mansion, the Vice President emphasized his commitment to protecting civil rights. He then observed that progress in the state had not come "primarily from government, but it has come from the activities of hundreds of thousands of individual Mississippians given an opportunity to develop their own lives. I want for this country and I want for the people of this State, for the people of all of our States, the kind of government in which we can have better jobs, better housing, better schools, better medical care." From there, Nixon noted that Democrats were offering the same old ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute William Jay Smith, born September 24th 1823. Immigrating from England as a child, he apprenticed to be a printer. Settling in Tennessee, this patriotic youth volunteered for the army during the Mexican war. Smith farmed near Memphis. Outbreak of civil war, he enlisted with the Union Army as colonel of the 6th (U.S.) Tennessee Cavalry. His regiment battled locally and in Mississippi. Peace restored, Smith served in a constitutional convention and in both houses of the legislature. He was delegate at two Republican National Conventions. November 1868, he won a term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Among the GOP initiatives receiving his vote were the Judiciary Act and the [anti-] Ku Klux Klan Act. President Ulysses Grant named him port surveyor of Memphis. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight a constitutional conundrum resulting from the murder of President James Garfield. On his death, September 19th 1881, Vice President Chester Arthur assumed office, but it was unclear who would succeed him, were there another tragedy. Back then, next in order of succession was the Senate President pro Tempore. Unfortunately, being even divided between Republicans and Democrats, the Senate had been unable to elect someone. Congress was in recess at the time, so prudence required the new Republican President to take action. Before traveling from Manhattan to Washington, Arthur mailed to the White House a proclamation calling the Senate into special session. Arriving safely, he issued in its place a formal proclamation, dated September 23rd: "I, Chester A. Arthur, President of the United States, have considered it to be my duty ...