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John Pershing, famous Republican General

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute John Pershing, born in Missouri, September 13th 1860. His job after high school was teaching African-American children. He entered West Point in 1882, rising to the highest cadet rank. Pershing took part in campaigns against the Sioux and Apache Indians. He studied law at University of Nebraska. Next came command of African-American cavalrymen known as the Buffalo Soldiers. From this arose his nickname, Black Jack . He fought in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, and later in the Philippines. January 1905, Pershing married the daughter of a Republican U.S. Senator. Also that year, Theodore Roosevelt named him military attaché in Japan. On his return, the President promoted him to brigadier general. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him to lead the expedition against Pancho Villa and then to command all Americans soldiers in Europe during W...
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Tarvin Baker, resolute Kentucky Republican Unionist

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Tarvin Baker, born in Kentucky, September 13th 1816. He attended Cincinnati Law School after three years as deputy sheriff. Next, the anti-slavery Whig entered politics as county prosecutor then state legislator. During the Civil War, Baker vigorously opposed secession. Republicans twice nominated him for governor. He briefly served as acting governor when Unionists forced the pro-Confederate incumbent to resign. his eulogy: "a self-made man of great natural talent, adhering to his convictions of right and his avowed principles at all hazards" 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...
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Florence Kelley – "the toughest customer in the reform riot, the finest rough-and-tumble fighter for the good life for others"

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Florence Kelley, born in Philadelphia, September 12th 1859. Her father was an influential Republican congressman. "I owe him everything that I have ever been able to learn to do." She attended Cornell University and wrote a thesis about underprivileged children. Kelley called for banning sweatshops and child labor as well as limiting workdays to eight hours. She co-founded the National Consumers League, the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the NAACP. Eight years, this tireless activist investigated atrocious labor conditions while residing at Hull House in Chicago. Kelley contributed to securing passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act for President Theodore Roosevelt. At her initiative, the Taft administration established the U.S. Children's Bureau. Back to Basics for the Repub...
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Charles Sheldon, the second Governor of South Dakota

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Charles Sheldon, born September 12th 1840. From age twelve he was a farm laborer. Experience in the free market led him to oppose slavery. During the Civil War, Sheldon enlisted with the 7th Vermont Infantry, rising from sergeant to captain. His regiment battled through Louisiana and Mississippi. Peace restored, he clerked at stores in Illinois. May 1881, Sheldon relocated to Dakota Territory. The ambitious Republican won several state house terms. He was elected Governor of South Dakota in 1892 and re-elected by a wider margin. Death came from pneumonia caught while campaigning for local candidates. 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, ...
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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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