Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight the first National Historic Landmark. During the Lewis & Clark Expedition, Sergeant Charles Floyd died – probably from appendicitis – near Sioux City, Iowa. Flooding swept away a wooden marker in 1857.  A local association secured funding from the federal and state governments and private sources for the U.S. Corps of Engineers to build a 100-foot sandstone obelisk. Completed in 1900, it stands on a 23-acre park and encloses Floyd’s remains. June 30th 1960, the Eisenhower administration designated the site as the nation’s first National Historic Landmark. 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 i...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Oliver Spaulding, born August 2nd 1833. He attended Oberlin College in Ohio, then relocated to Michigan and studied law. Outbreak of civil war, Spaulding enlisted as captain. His regiment battled through Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. He merited promotion to colonel. Peace restored, Spaulding was elected secretary of state and served on the Michigan GOP committee. President Grant offered to nominate him for a judgeship in Utah, then named him to a Treasury Department position. In 1880, he won a congressional term. President Arthur sent him on a diplomatic mission to Hawaii. This reliable public servant was Assistant Treasury Secretary during the Harrison administration, delegate to the 1896 Republican National Convention, and again Assistant Treasury Secretary during the McKinley administration. Theodore Roosevelt and Willia...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Samuel Pingree, born August 2nd 1835. He attended Dartmouth, then studied law. Outbreak of civil war, this young Republican recruited volunteers and enlisted as lieutenant with the 3rd Vermont Infantry. Pingree was severely wounded during the Peninsula Campaign. After ten weeks in hospital, he returned to his regiment and was promoted. He later fought at Spotsylvania, Wilderness, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. His last battle was the defense of Washington at Fort Stevens. Lieutenant Colonel Pingree received the Medal of Honor. Peace restored, Pingree served as county prosecutor and attended the GOP's 1868 national convention. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1882 and Governor in 1884. "His administration was characterized by the same efficiency and zeal which he ever displayed as soldier, lawyer and citizen." Later ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I appreciate the GOP's reverence for voting rights. August 1st 1916, Republican presidential nominee Charles Evans Hughes endorsed a women's suffrage amendment to the U.S. Constitution: "My view is that the proposed amendment should be submitted and ratified." He called it "a measure of justice to one half the adult people of this country." In contrast, Democrat President Woodrow Wilson opposed women's suffrage. Narrowly losing the election, Hughes went on to be Secretary of State and Chief Justice. 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 artic...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute John Fugh. At sixteen, he immigrated from China, fleeing the Communists. His father had been an aide to the U.S. ambassador. He studied at Georgetown University and George Washington University Law School. In 1960, Fugh enlisted as lieutenant with the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He cited "a sense of obligation. My family managed to come to this country, and I owed something for being here. Military service was a payback." Posts included San Francisco, Vietnam, Taiwan and Germany. August 1st 1984, President Ronald Reagan promoted him to brigadier general. Fugh retired as major general. His wife was elder sister of journalist Connie Chung. 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 D...