By Jennifer Carne '08 & Frances McVay '08
Political Columnists
Wellesley's second semester is full of "history months": February is Black History month; March is Asian Awareness month; April is Latina month. This recognition allows minority groups on campus to celebrate their rich histories and expose others to their unique cultures.
The fact that these groups are able to celebrate their heritage and diverse backgrounds is wonderful and beneficial for our community. While not a minority in society off campus, the Republican population is a minority on campus, represented by probably no more than 7 to 8 percent of students. Thus, we would like to take this opportunity to explore and commemorate some GOP history.
The GOP, now known as the "Grand Old Party," but previously as the "Gallant Old Party" in 1875, will turn 154 years old on July 6, 2008. The party was started in the mid-19th century by abolitionists and citizens who wanted the government to help with western pioneering. Founded in Wisconsin, the party chose its name to recall the sentiments and beliefs of Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party of the early 19th century. In 1856, two years after the initiation of the party, the first Republican candidate ran for president.
This candidate, John C. Frémont, ran under the slogan "Free soil, free labor, free speech, free men, Frémont" – a slogan which, even today, echoes the values of the party, based on pride of freedom and free speech.
Although Fremont was a third party candidate (Whigs and Democrats were the major parties), he received 33 percent of the vote that year, blazing the trail for Lincoln's election in 1860 ("The Republican Party – GOP history," www.gop.com, accessed March 15, 2008).
Lincoln and his early Republican colleagues worked hard during the Civil War to gain fundamental rights for blacks in the United States, passing the 13th amendment to outlaw slavery, the 14th amendment to secure equal protection for all by law and the 15th amendment to establish voting rights for blacks. Thirty years later in 1896, the Republican Party again fought to help those who were not treated equally, being the first party to support the women's suffrage movement. In 1917, the first woman elected to congress, Jeanette Rankin, was a Republican candidate from Montana ("The Republican Party – GOP history").
The Republican Party had secured its status as a major political party by the end of the 19th century.
The 20th century also saw Republican presidents play key roles in advocating the advancement of individual rights. The first civil rights acts of this chaotic century were proposed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, a two-term Republican president. His 1957 and 1960 laws were the first attempts since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era to enforce equality under the law.
Later, Ronald Reagan, arguably the most revered Republican president, successfully led the charge against the Iron Curtain of communism. His 1987 speech demanding Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" of oppression remains one of the most famous quotes of an American president.
The widespread rejoicing over the fall of the Berlin Wall two years later expressed the appreciation for extending freedom and individual rights to those who could not attain them under their governments. Reagan also holds the honor of having nominated the first woman justice to the Supreme Court with his 1981 nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor.
Finally, the last Republican president of the 20th century, George H.W. Bush, is remembered by many for the U.S.'s participation in the Gulf War against Iraq. This war to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's invasion continued the Republican Party's presidential legacy of fighting to give freedom and rights to those who lack them.
Despite its extensive history of helping those who had no voice in government, the Republican Party has garnered a reputation as being close-minded, racist and sexist. We hope that Wellesley students, disregarding personal political beliefs, will be better judges of the party that has contributed so much toward the establishment of freedom and rights for oppressed peoples in the United States and abroad. As young Republicans, we are proud to support a political party that emerged from the abolitionist movement and persists in the advancement of freedom and individual rights for those whose voice is suppressed.