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Oliver Spaulding, patriotic Soldier and Statesman

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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...
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Samuel Pingree, courageous Union Army Soldier and meritorious Republican Governor of Vermont

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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 ...
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Republicans led the way to Women's Suffrage

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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...
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John Fugh, the first Chinese-American General

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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...
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the Eisenhower National Historic Site

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight Dwight Eisenhower’s home adjoining the Gettysburg battlefield. In 1951, he and wife Mamie bought a 189-acre farm, along with several dilapidated buildings. Having moved thirty-seven times during their marriage, they had never before owned a home. Each state GOP chairman donated a tree along the driveway. Not until extensive repairs and renovations could the couple host a public event – celebration of their 39th wedding anniversary – on July 1st 1955. Among the guests were all White House staffers, over two shifts. While president, he spent most weekends and vacations at Gettysburg. The couple resided there after leaving office, and donated it to the National Park Service, with lifetime residency rights. The farm is now the Eisenhower National Historic Site. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of t...
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George Smith, first Chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party

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Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor George Smith, born in Detroit, July 31st 1859. The pharmacist relocated to Honolulu in 1880. He served on the fire department commission and the board of health and the board of education. July 1900, the Hawaii Republican Party committee elected him their first chairman. Smith declared: "To obtain a strong organization, a creditable organization, one in keeping with the grand history of the Republican Party and one that will be a credit to the territory, requires singleness of purpose, harmony, unity of action, without factional strife or prejudice." January 1903, he chaired a committee celebrating installation of an underwater telegraph cable to the mainland. President Theodore Roosevelt sent his "sincerest and most hearty good wishes." Later years, Smith was hospital trustee and city councilman and chamber of commerce pres...
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