Thomas Turner, the first Republican Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island


Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Thomas Turner, born in Rhode Island, October 24th 1810. He worked his way up from ship deck hand to store clerk to president of an insurance company. His political career began as a state legislator.

Turner joined the RIGOP when friends of freedom established the party. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1857 and then Governor two years later. He cast an electoral vote for Abraham Lincoln. The new President appointed him collector of internal revenue. Later years focused on managing a bank and a railroad.


"His urbanity, kindness, and integrity were proverbial."

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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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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