Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor John Pillsbury, born in New Hampshire, July 29th 1827. He managed a store before relocating to Minneapolis at age twenty-eight. This savvy entrepreneur prospered in hardware and lumber and real estate and railroads and banking. His political career began with election to the city council, and then the state senate. He funded the University of Minnesota. Pillsbury bought a rundown flour mill. Modern equipment and techniques soon made it a success. In 1872, he and a nephew founded the Pillsbury Baking Company. In 1875, the dedicated Republican was elected Governor, for first of three terms. Responding to the Great Locust Plague of 1877, he called for a Day of Prayer. Within days, a springtime blizzard killed the ravenous bugs. Pullsbury then supervised relief efforts for stricken farmers. Retirement focused on philanthropy.  He was eulogized as "an earn...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight origin of the Small Business Administration. In 1953, Republicans wanted to abolish the Depression-era Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Two decades of Democrat corruption had focused it on big business. Dwight Eisenhower asked Congress to replace the RFC with an entity "to aid, counsel, assist and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns." July 30th , the President signed the Reconstruction Finance Corporation Liquidation Act. This law became known as the Small Business Act, for establishing the SBA. Though originally temporary, Eisenhower succeeded in making it permanent. 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 o...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I focus on Nebraska. Statehood achieved, the GOP-controlled legislature passed a bill providing for a state capital to be located in the southeastern part of the state. Empowered to designate the exact site was a commission of three Republicans: Governor David Butler, Secretary of State Thomas Kennard and Auditor John Gillespie. July 29th 1867, they chose a village known as Lancaster. They renamed it Lincoln, after the martyred Republican President. 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 arti...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I commemorate Disneyland’s opening day, July 17th 1955. Walt Disney, a firm supporter of the GOP, invited Ronald Reagan and two fellow Republicans, to co-host festivities. They broadcast from various locations throughout a ninety-minute television program. Bob Cummings, also an actor, had been firmly Republican since endorsing Wendell Willkie for president in 1940. Television personality Art Linkletter donated to conservative causes and backed Richard Nixon for president in 1960. The event proved to be a huge success, with tens of thousands attending. Some ninety million people watched from home. Here is a 4-minute video about the big day.. 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 w...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute the Buffalo Soldiers. July 28th 1866, the GOP-controlled 39th Congress passed the Army Reorganization Act. This legislation formed a peacetime military, now that the Civil War had ended. A key provision, introduced by Tennessee Republican Congressman Isaac Hawkins, established four infantry regiments with African-American soldiers. A subsequent amendment introduced by Ohio Republican Senator Ben Wade provided for two regiments of African-American cavalry. These soldiers had as their mission to maintain government control over the native populace and to protect settlers from outlaws. They were named Buffalo Soldiers by American Indians, who greatly admired them. Notably, "these soldiers represented the military in the finest tradition of bravery and valor." Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights histo...