Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I commemorate the New York City women's suffrage parade. October 23rd 1915, fifty thousand people marched, cheered by two hundred thousand spectators. Their purpose was winning support for a referendum to extend voting rights to women in the state. Republican Senator William Borah arrived from Idaho to address the crowd. Republican Mayor John Mitchel said: "I believe I can congratulate the women of this State tonight on their prospects for success. I shall cast my vote for the suffrage amendment. I sincerely urge upon my fellow citizens that they vote for this amendment." Republican Governor Charles Whitman also backed the event. 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 ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute John Chafee, born in Providence, October 22nd 1922. He enlisted in the Marines, fighting at Guadalcanal and Okinawa. After graduation from Yale University and Harvard Law School, he commanded an infantry company during the Korean War. A subordinate described him as "a truly great man."  The moderate Republican won a state house seat in 1956, and rose to be speaker. Six years later, he was elected Governor. Strong management skills earned him two more terms. President Richard Nixon appointed him Navy Secretary. In 1976, Chafee won first of four U.S. Senate terms. Health care and the environment were two of his legislative priorities. Colleagues knew him to be "driven, relentless and focused." Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book:...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I commemorate the Republican origin of a famous advertising slogan. October 22nd 1907, Theodore Roosevelt visited Nashville. Two thousand students and a cavalry escort accompanied him from the train station to an auditorium. Following a speech, Roosevelt visited the Hermitage, home and burial place of Andrew Jackson. He praised Old Hickory as "sold ier, statesman, patriot– devoted to the welfare of his whole country." There, while at lunch, the President was served Maxwell House coffee. He exclaimed that it was "good to the last drop!" 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.co...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I give a shoutout to Christopher Columbus. President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed: WHEREAS, By joint resolution, approved June 29, 1892, it was resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, "That the President of the United States be authorized and directed to issue a proclamation recommending to the people the observance in all their localities of the four-hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America, on the twenty-first day of October, 1892, by public demonstrations and by suitable exercises in their schools and other places of assembly." Now, therefore, I, Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States of America, in pursuance of the aforesaid joint resolution, do hereby appoint Friday, October 21, 1892, the four-hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus, as a general holiday for the peo...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Ralph Cameron, born October 21st 1863. After five years fishing in Newfoundland, he clerked at a Boston store. Moving to Flagstaff at age twenty-six, he prospected near the Grand Canyon. Seeing its tourism potential, the entrepreneur built a hotel near the Bright Angel Trail.  Cameron served as county sheriff and delegate to the 1896 Republican National Convention. He was elected congressional delegate in 1908. To him goes much credit for the GOP-controlled 61st Congress granting Arizona statehood. He lost a bid for U.S. Senator, then the governorship. In 1920, Cameron won a second Senate campaign. Perhaps his greatest legislative achievement was authorization of the Coolidge Dam and related irrigation projects. a graveside epitaph: "Secured Statehood for Arizona. Arizona can never forget him." Back to Basics f...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Edward Baker. What a career he had! Born in London, Baker immigrated to Pennsylvania with his parents as a child and then to Illinois as a teenager. There, he joined the Whig Party and was elected to the state legislature. Abraham Lincoln befriended him and named his second son after him. In 1844, Baker won a term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The young congressman resigned in order to command a regiment during the Mexican War. He then won another congressional term. Baker next moved to San Francisco in 1851 and practiced law. Within months of moving to Oregon in 1859 he was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Republican. Outbreak of civil war, Senator Baker raised a regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers and became its colonel. October 21st 1861, rebels shot him while he was leading an impetuous attack along the Potomac River abo...