Joseph Foraker, from Boy Soldier to Republican Governor and Senator

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Joseph Foraker, born July 5th 1846. The teenager marched with the Wide Awakes in support of Abraham Lincoln for president, then enlisted in the 89th Ohio Infantry. His regiment battled through Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Union restored, Foraker was among Cornell University's first graduating class. He relocated to Cincinnati for law studies. Eloquence at campaign rallies for Ulysses Grant's re-election caught the attention of Republican politicos. He went on to chair six GOP state conventions and attend six Republican National Conventions.

In 1879, while a state judge, this "unobjectionable man" was touted for the governorship by the incumbent governor. He won the nomination but narrowly lost the election. Foraker won a re-match two years later. Among his achievements were repealing racialły discriminatory laws, establishing a board of health and prosecuting Democrat vote fraud. Success garnered him another term.

Though defeated for a third term, Foraker was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1896. During his two terms, he supported the GOP's enlightened agenda on race relations while opposing many overly statist policies.

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 an Instagram Video about this article.

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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