Michael Zak: James Meredith, Republican

Grand Old Partisan salutes James Meredith, Republican civil rights pioneer, born this day in 1933. In 1962, judge Elbert Tuttle, an Eisenhower appointee, ordered the Democrat-controlled state government to permit Meredith, an African-American, to enroll at the University of Mississippi. He is pictured here being esorted to the university by John Doar, another Eisenhower appointee, and a federal marshal. Riots by Democrat racists left two dead and 79 soldiers and U.S marshals wounded. ∴ Meredith joined the Republican Party and for several years was a staffer for Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC). He recognized the danger posed to African-Americans by condescending, socialist white Democrats.

Michael Zak is a popular speaker to Republican organizations around the country, showing office-holders, candidates and activists how they would benefit tremendously from appreciating the heritage of our Grand Old Party. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is his acclaimed history of the GOP from the Republican point of view. Each day, his Grand Old Partisan blog celebrates more than fifteen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. See www.republicanbasics.com for more information.