James Wickersham, the Father of Alaska Home Rule


Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor James Wickersham, born in Illinois, August 24th 1857. He practiced law at Springfield before moving to Washington territory in 1883. The ambitious Republican was a local judge, then Takoma city attorney, then state representative. 

In 1900, President William McKinley appointed him one of three federal judges for the Alaska territory. Wickersham went on to serve as congressional delegate, from 1909 to 1921 and from 1931 to 1933. His foremost accomplishment was passage in 1912 of a federal law establishing a territorial legislature. He also deserved credit for the University of Alaska and Mount McKinley National Park (now Denali National Park and Preserve) and naming the second city for Vice President Charles Fairbanks.

"No other man has made as deep and varied imprints on Alaska's heritage, whether it be in politics, government, commerce, literature, history or philosophy. A federal judge, member of Congress, attorney and explorer – present-day Alaska is deeply in debt to him."


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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