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Jacob Brinkerhoff, author of the Wilmot Proviso

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Jacob Brinkerhoff, born August 31st 1810. He began practicing law in Ohio and soon was elected county prosecutor. In 1842, Brinkerhoff first won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, as a Democrat. Being opposed to slavery led him to join the Free Soil Party. During the Mexican War, he drafted a resolution barring slavery from any territory that might be acquired. By arrangement, whichever of several congressmen recognized by the Speaker would introduce it. Fortune smiled on David Wilmot, for whom it became known as the Wilmot Proviso. Back to Basics for the Republican Party   explained that this proposed legislation divided the American people into two groups, pro-slavery Democrats – and friends of freedom who would soon establish the GOP. Brinkerhoff attended several Republican National Conventions. He served twelve years as Chief Justice of...
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Democrats nominated for vice president a racist who opposed abolishing slavery

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I denounce Democrat devilry. August 31st 1864, the Slavery Party's national convention nominated for vice president a racist who opposed emancipation. George Pendleton also advocated Confederate independence. In the movie Lincoln, heroic Thaddeus Stevens confronts villainous George Pendleton : "How can I hold that all men are created equal when here before me stands, stinking, the moral carcass of the gentleman from Ohio? Proof that some men ARE inferior, endowed by their maker with dim wits, impermeable to reason, with cold, pallid slime in their veins instead of hot, red blood! YOU are more reptile than man, George, so low and flat that the foot of man is incapable of crushing you! "Yet even YOU, Pendleton – who should have been gibbetted for treason long before today – even worthless, unworthy you ought to be treated equally before the law! And so...
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the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar . Thousands of these documents were distributed at the 2004 Republican National Convention, which began on August 30th in New York City. Additional calendars were delivered to Members of Congress and other officials around the country. After reading  Back to Basics for the Republican Party , my history of the GOP, Representative Christopher Cox hired me at the House Policy Committee. He wanted to help inform people about the book's theme, that Republicans should appreciate the heritage of our Grand Old Party. The result was this calendar, celebrating 365 achievements and heroes of the Republican Party. The entries were re-published, though not credited to me, on many websites. Cox made sure to give credit where credit was due. At his insistence, the back cover of the calendar says: "Text based ...
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Jack Swigert, heroic Republican Astronaut

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Jack Swigert, born in Denver, August 30th 1931. The aviation enthusiast had a pilot license by age sixteen. He studied mechanical engineering at University of Colorado, aerospace engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and business administration at University of Hartford.  Twelve years, Swigert was an Air Force fighter pilot. He followed this with several years as a test pilot. His service at NASA began in 1966. He was one of three astronauts on the famous Apollo 13 mission to the Moon. He ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senator, then worked at a mining corporation. November 1982, this "advocate for Ronald Reagan" won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Sadly, he died of cancer before taking office. A statue of Jack Swigert is displayed at the U.S. Capitol. Back to Basics for the Republican Par...
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Frederick Woodbridge, conscientious Vermont Republican Congressman

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Frederick Woodbridge, born in Vermont, August 29th 1818. The young attorney entered politics as councilman and mayor of his small town. Next came several terms in the legislature. He also managed a railroad. During the Civil War, Woodbridge won first of three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Among the GOP achievements receiving his vote were the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, the 1866 Civil Rights Act, and the purchase of Alaska. 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 an Instagram Video about this article. Here is a TikTok Video about this article. Here is...
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Thomas Stilwell – Union Army Officer and Indiana Republican Congressman

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Thomas Stilwell, born August 29th 1830. He studied law and began his practice in Indiana and won a state house term. During the Civil War, this patriotic Republican was quartermaster for the 34th Indiana Infantry. His regiment battled through Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi. In 1864, Stilwell won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. The 13th Amendment and the 1866 Civil Rights Act received his vote. After a term, he served as Ambassador to Venezuela, then headed a bank. 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 an Instagram ...
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Calvin Chaffee, abolitionist Republican Congressman who Emancipated the slave Dred Scott

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Calvin Chaffee, born August 28th 1811. He studied medicine and practiced in Massachusetts. Chaffee was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, in 1854 with the American Party and re-elected as a Republican. Married to the widow of a man who had owned Dred Scott, he arranged for the slave and his family to be emancipated. In 1860, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives named him congressional librarian. Later years were devoted to medicine in the nation’s capital. 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 an Instagram Video about this article. Here is a TikTok V...
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