William Hunt – Southern Republican and Father of the modern U.S. Navy


Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I praise William Hunt, born in South Carolina, June 12th 1823. After studying law at Yale, this scion of a political family relocated to New Orleans. Drafted into the rebel army, though opposed to secession, he managed to avoid combat, as a drill instructor, before welcoming Union forces into the city.

Peace restored, Hunt joined the GOP and supported its 1867 Reconstruction Act. While state attorney general, he nearly won for governor. For a consolation prize, President Rutherford Hayes named him to the federal bench.

President James Garfield appointed him Secretary of the Navy. Hunt created the Office of Naval Intelligence. To replace the obsolete wooden ships left over from the Civil War, he proposed a fleet of sixty-eight steel warships, though Congress reduced that number to ten. Nonetheless, described on page 126 of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, the modern U.S. Navy was born. President Chester Arthur named him Ambassador to Russia.

Two warships have been named for William Hunt.

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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