Back to Basics for the Republican Party, Third Edition [Paperback]

Michael Zak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 2003

Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the acclaimed history of the GOP from the civil rights perspective.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I have experienced firsthand an insightful, well-written, eye-opening recreation of the history of the Republican Party. -- Robert, Illinois

Michael Zak's Back to Basics for the Republican Party is an insightful and astute look into our nation's political history. -- Seth Gershberg, Chicago IL

Michael Zak's book underscores the importance of really knowing your history. -- Kip Krady, Charlotte, NC

From the Publisher

Michael Zak is a popular speaker to Republican organizations around the country, showing office-holders, candidates, and activists how they would benefit tremendously from knowing and appreciating our Party's heritage of civil rights achievement. His speeches have received many excellent reviews. As he says, "The more we Republicans know about the history of our Party, the more the Democrats will worry about the future of theirs."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 249 pages
• Publisher: Signature Books; 3rd edition (February 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970006322
• ISBN-13: 978-0970006325
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #737,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 49 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars It's a GOP infomercial September 1, 2006

By Patrick D. John

Format:Paperback

I myself am a Black Republican, so I agree with Mr. Zak that the GOP's history on civil rights has not been fairly told. However, this book makes the same 2 errors that most GOP loyalists make when discussing Blacks and the GOP: 1) they oversimplify the ideology of the early Republicans and abolitionists. For example, notably missing from Mr. Zak's book are the following facts:that Herbert Hoover (Republican) was the first president to refuse to address the NAACP's convention, that Carter G. Woodson-the Founder of Black History Month-became so disappointed with the GOP that in the late 1920's he publicly stated that Blacks should stop being blindly loyal to the GOP, that soon after Reconstruction the GOP condoned the formation in the South of racially segregated GOP organizations, called the Lily Whites and the Black & Tans;that beginning in the 1870's Republican candidates lost elections in some Northern states because the Radical Republicans' idea of perfect equality was not embraced by most Whites, not even by most Republicans; that Lincoln was NOT a Radical Republican, he was a moderate who had ALWAYS discussed freeing the slaves ONLY in conjunction with deporting them to another country, for Lincoln openly declared that Blacks were inferior to Whites; that after the Civil War the GOP was weak nationally-since the founding of the GOP America has had 4 presidents who won by electoral vote but lost the popular vote, and all 4 were Republicans (Harrison, Hayes, Garfield, and Bush); that not all Republicans or abolitionists believed in racial equality, in fact most did NOT, they believed ONLY in ending slavery, and even on that issue they disagreed on the reasons, some were against slavery for moral reasons, others because they feared slave revolts, others because slavery competed with White labor, others because they wanted the good farmland used for more than just cotton. 2) they leave out much of how/why Blacks left the GOP in the first place: Mr. Zak's book does lay blame at the feet of Barry Goldwater, but overlooks the fact that Goldwater's victory in the GOP presidential primary obviusly says something about the views of rank and file Republicans in 1964-national civil rights legislation was clearly not a priority for most Republican voters in 1964, else Goldwater could not have won. Goldwater was just the icing on the cake. Beginning in the 1870's, the GOP began taking the Black vote for granted precisely because the Democrats were such vicious racists. Mr. Zak's book points out how the Democrats were at one point synonymous with the KKK, but he overlooks the obvious political implication for Black voters-if their only 2 choices were between the GOP and the Klan, it was an easy decision. Blacks voted for the GOP because they feared voting for the Democrats, this led to the GOP taking the Black vote for granted as the GOP moved further away from civil rights issues in order to attract more White voters, feeling confident that in doing so it would not lose Black voters. Today, it's the Democrats who take the Black vote for granted, because most Black voters are afraid of the GOP-the tables have turned.

As a Black Republican who is pro civil rights, I think what we need is a balanced review of history. This book is not balanced. Throughout history minorities have been used by the dominant group like a political footbal, and Blacks in America are no different. I'm working with some other Black Republicans to prepare a balanced view of Blacks and the GOP told from the Black perspective, not the perspective of a party loyalist.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If You're a Republican, Democrat or Independent, Read This! October 11, 2003

By Michael Miller

Format:Paperback

Just as Ann Coulter destroyed the myth of Joseph McCarthy, Michael Zak finally sets the record straight on the roots of the Republican Party. Far too often today, the descendants of slavery see the Republican Party as a racist, exclusive club for whites. Hopefully many of them will see this book, and finally learn that it was Republicans who led the fight against slavery from its outset. It was Republicans who passed the 13th , 14th and 15th Amendments as well as the civil rights acts during and after Reconstruction. Zak does not hide the skeletons either. He points out Republican corruption and incompetence, but most importantly points out the tragic mistakes that virtually handed the Democrats almost the entire African American voting block in this country. Where we as a party go from here depends heavily on our understanding of history and the extent of determination to once again become the party of inclusiveness. This does not require compromising those principles that made us the Grand Old Party, and the guarantors of freedom. We have a long way to go, and are sometimes unsure of the right direction, but just maybe Michael Zak and his excellent book will help us recalibrate our compass.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading by All Republican Activists July 31, 2006

By Kim

Format:Paperback

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party" is the most important book written about the Republican Party in a couple of decades and the most helpful book for "working and involved" Republicans in 40 years. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This should be required reading for every Republican Activist, Member, Leader, and Candidate. Republicans have lost too many verbal, public relation battles to Democrats. This will arm you and enable you to defeat your left-wing opponents. By learning our heritage, we will win over the American people, especially the younger generation. Kim, Madison, Wisconsin