Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I highlight origin of the New York Republican Party. Appalled by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, John Jay, grandson and namesake of a Founder, called for anti-slavery activists to meet at a church in Manhattan. That gathering arranged for a statewide convention which took place in Saratoga Springs on August 16th 1854. Three thousand patriots gathered. A young Chester Arthur and William Seward’s son Frederick were among the delegates. They passed resolutions condemning Democrats for promoting slavery. The convention did not yet establish a new political party. Another the following month in Auburn endorsed an anti-Democrat coalition candidate for governor, who was elected. Edward Bullard, a former Democrat Congressman, invited friends of freedom to assemble at Ballston Spa on October 6th. It was at this convention that New York Republicans nominat...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute John Woodworth, born August 15th 1837. He studied pharmacy at University of Chicago. Smithsonian Institution hired him to collect plant specimens. Graduating from Chicago Medical College, Woodworth enlisted as assistant surgeon in the Union Army. The highly competent young man rose to be chief doctor with General Sherman's forces. Peace restored, Woodworth studied in Berlin and Vienna. He later taught anatomy at Chicago Medical College and was inspector for Chicago Board of Health. In 1871, the Ulysses Grant administration named him supervising surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service. This agency had been established decades earlier "for the relief of sick and disabled seamen." Woodworth professionalized its physicians and gave them naval uniforms. He also broadened the service into public health ac...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Judson Lyons, born on a Georgia slave plantation, August 15th 1858. After emancipation, he taught himself to read and write. This civil rights activist was youngest delegate at the 1880 Republican National Convention. After graduating from Howard University Law School, Lyons became the state’s first African-American attorney. Lyons served on the Republican National Committee. At the 1896 GOP national convention, he backed William McKinley. The new president appointed him postmaster at Augusta, but had to back down in the face of fierce Democrat opposition. McKinley later named him Register of the U.S. Treasury. In this capacity, the signature of Judson Lyons appeared on all paper money. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Rep...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Gerald Solomon, born August 14th 1930. After serving in the Marine Corps, he prospered with clothing manufacturing and real estate and insurance. Town council and county board were the start of his political career. In 1972, Solomon first won election to the New York state house. At the 1976 Republican National Convention, this avowed conservative supported Ronald Reagan for president. In 1978, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He later contested Newt Gingrich for speaker. Chairing the rules committee closed out his ten terms. Gerald B.H. National Cemetery is named for "a passionate patriot, a heartfelt defender of liberty, an advocate of military strength and a man who put the needs of others first." 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 appreciate Republican foresight and compassion. August 14th 1912, William Howard Taft signed a bill establishing the United States Public Health Service. Formerly the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service, it was transformed into an agency with broader responsibilities and additional resources for research, disease prevention and education. This upgrade had been championed by the Surgeon General, Rupert Blue, whom the President had appointed earlier that year. 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...