John Jay, anti-slavery activist and co-founder of the New York Republican Party

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor John Jay, grandson of the famous Founder, born June 23rd 1817. He was elected president of the New York Young Men's Antislavery Society.

While in private legal practice, Jay defended many escaped slaves, working on a celebrated case with future Republican President Chester Arthur. He presided at several Free Soil conventions and was that party's candidate for state attorney general. In 1855, he co-founded the New York GOP.

Jay observed:

"The platform of the Republicans, as adopted at Philadelphia on the 18th of June, 1856, is at once so simple and comprehensive as to admit all Americans, who are in favor of restoring the Government to the principles of Washington, and putting a final stop to the extension of slavery, without compromising their individual preferences, on the other political questions which naturally exist in our government, but which are, for the time, overshadowed by this paramount issue.

"The Republican Party holds that an adherence to the principles of the Fathers, and the Declaration of Independence — which the sham democracy of the day ridicules as a tissue of glittering sounding generalities — is essential to the preservation of our Republican institutions, of the Federal Constitution, of the rights of the people, and the union of the States. It denies the authority of Congress, or of any territorial legislature, or of any association of individuals, to establish slavery in the territories."

"With the adoption of the policy of justice forced upon the Government by the people, the God of Justice smiled upon our cause, the slaves rallied in defense of their country’s flag, and that flag advanced by land and sea, until was accomplished a triumph such as the world had never seen before, and at which it has not yet ceased to wonder."

During the Civil War, Jay aided the Lincoln administration while chairing the Union League Club. President Ulysses Grant made him ambassador to Austria-Hungary, serving eight years. Next, the Rutherford Hayes administration appointed him to an investigative commission.

In 1883, Governor Grover Cleveland named Jay to a Republican seat on the state civil service commission. Later years, he was president of the American Historical Association.

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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