Leonard Myers, the first Jewish Republican Congressman


Grand Old Partisan salutes Leonard Myers, born near Philadelphia, November 13th 1827. He studied law at the University of Pennsylvania.

During the Civil War, Myers enlisted as major with the state militia. In 1862, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. This patriotic Republican went on to win five re-elections and chair the foreign affairs committee. Receiving his vote were 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments, the [anti-] Ku Klux Klan Act, Yellowstone National Park and the 1875 Civil Rights Act.

His most important speech was titled: "Acceptance of the results of the war the true basis of reconstruction, and liberty regulated by law the safeguard of the Republic"

Of the first Republican President, he said:

"When the storm comes and the waves run high, and the passengers begin to despair, the quiet skill and faith and bravery of him who guides the vessel through in safety, marks him distinguished among his fellow men. Such a one was Abraham Lincoln."

Myers called Democrat President Andrew Johnson "one of those instances of men in high places, who in the madness and egotism of their ambition forget their better days, and only remain as a reproach in the pages of history."

His eloquence helped persuade a reluctant Congress to fund the Alaska Purchase. Decades later, he cast an electoral vote for the McKinley/Hobart presidential ticket.

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.

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Here is my Substack about this article.

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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