John Rock, first African-American lawyer admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court

Grand Old Partisan honors John Rock, born in New Jersey, October 13th 1825. He apprenticed to a dentist. Graduating from the American Medical College in Philadelphia placed him among the nation's first African-American physicians.

In 1858, Rock decided to seek medical treatment in France, but Secretary of State Lewis Cass tried to stop him. Cass, a former Democrat presidential nominee, ruled that African-Americans could not be issued U.S. passports. The GOP-controlled Massachusetts legislature then issued him a travel document which the French government accepted.

On returning home, he studied law. During the Civil War, this famous man recruited African-American volunteers for the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry regiments.

In a lecture at Boston's Faneuil Hall, Rock derided racial prejudice: "If any man does not fancy my color, that is his business, and I shall not meddle with it. I shall give myself no trouble because he lacks good taste." It was he who coined the phrase Black is Beautiful.

February 1865, Chief Justice Salmon Chase, a prominent Republican, swore him in to practice before the Supreme Court. Rock died a year later.

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. 

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Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.


Each day, his YouTube videos and TikTok videos and Rumble videos and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states.

Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.

"This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!"

"Your book is a national treasure. I'm always recommending it."

"Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before."

and

"one of the best books I ever read"



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