John Woodworth, the first Surgeon General

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute John Woodworth, born August 15th 1837. He studied pharmacy at University of Chicago. Smithsonian Institution hired him to collect plant specimens.

Graduating from Chicago Medical College, Woodworth enlisted as assistant surgeon in the Union Army. The highly competent young man rose to be chief doctor with General Sherman's forces.

Peace restored, Woodworth studied in Berlin and Vienna. He later taught anatomy at Chicago Medical College and was inspector for Chicago Board of Health.

In 1871, the Ulysses Grant administration named him supervising surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service. This agency had been established decades earlier "for the relief of sick and disabled seamen." Woodworth professionalized its physicians and gave them naval uniforms. He also broadened the service into public health activities.

In 1912, the title was changed from supervising surgeon to surgeon general and the Marine Hospital Service was changed to the U.S. Public Health Service. Its seal is that designed by John Woodworth.

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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