William Knowland, meteoric California Republican Senator


Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute William Knowland, born near San Francisco, June 26th 1908. His father was a congressman. Age twelve, he started volunteering for GOP candidates. Public service began in the state house at twenty-four and two years later the state senate.

This young Republican served on the RNC executive committee. While an army major in 1945, Governor Earl Warren appointed him to a U.S. Senate vacancy. Knowland went on to defeat humorist Will Rogers for the remainder of the term and then for a full term. He won for a third term with 88% of the vote.

Knowland was Senate Majority Leader from 1953 to 1955, and then Minority Leader. He was a foreign policy hardliner, often sparring with President Eisenhower, but mainstream on domestic policy. His guidance helped overcome Democrat opposition to the 1957 Civil Rights Act.

Rather than seek another term, in 1958 Knowland ran for governor, but suffered a crushing defeat. He did stay active, campaigning for Ronald Reagan and publishing a newspaper. Tragically, he committed suicide in 1974.


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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