The Grand Old Party: The History of the Republican Party

By: Charles River Editors

Narrated by: Scott Clem

2016 has been one of the most unusual election years, and nothing represents the unprecedented nature more than the race for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, which featured more than 15 candidates. As with most years, several candidates with various political experience - from former and current governors to Congressmen and Senators - ran, but the race also featured a number of political novices, one of whom became the party’s nominee.

In a sense, all of that is fitting given the winding nature of the Republican Party’s history. Now dominant in the American South, the party was anathema in the South for more than a century. Likewise, if someone asked a man on the street in the early 1900s to describe the Republican Party, he might point to Teddy Roosevelt’s efforts on behalf of progressive politics and conservation, whereas a few years later, the Party was known as a protector of big business, and later law and order. During the Reagan Era, the words “small government” came to characterize the party, even as its leaders took one hit after another for wanting to limit social spending. Republicans were in office at the start of the Depression and the end of the Vietnam War.

Ultimately, the direction that the Republican Party has taken at any given time has been determined, for the most part, by the party leadership, which has traditionally made its voice most heard at the Republican National Convention, which convenes once every four years to nominate candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency. During its more than 150 years of existence, it has nominated saints and scoundrels, and seen some men make it to the White House and others not. Its first successful candidate was assassinated, as was one of his successors a few decades later.

©2016 Charles River Editors (P)2018 Charles River Editors

Great book however I am very disappointed.

Good afternoon loyal Audible listeners,

This audiobook is phenomenal for Republican party history. However Scott Clem, does a really bad narration of it.

Therefore, if you want to be put to sleep and miss some very important information. This book is for you. On the contrary, if you are a historical enthusiast like myself; you are going to be very disappointed. The narration was least to be desired. In my opinion; when we are talking about Scott Clem as the narrator. That is putting it nicely.

Other aspects about this audiobook are great. And I'm not just saying that. However, I fell asleep. Therefore, I am going to have to re-listen to this book again which I am absolutely dreading.

Additionally, this book on the history of the republican party is flawed. In my opinion, the Republican Party should not be allowed to use GOP. Which stands for grand old party although it was founded by anti-federalist and remnants of the wig party. They are in fact not the oldest party in the United States of America. If we want to be historically accurate people. The oldest political party in America today is in fact the democratic party. Which was founded by Martin Van Buren in 1828.

Meanwhile, although the Republican Party started as the democratic republican party in 1870. That does not make them the oldest party. The Republican party in fact did not get their national recognition until 1854 when Abraham Lincoln won the republican party nomination in 1860. In fact the only reason why there are Republican party does exist is because the Democrats came up with the term first. Which was called democratic republican. Which in fact means that the only two people that we would associate with being democratic Republicans today would be James Madison and John Quincy Adams.

Even back then the democratic republican party did not last long. That is why Abraham Lincoln is known as the father of the republican party. And the Republican party did not have a firm foundation until 1854 when Abraham Lincoln who was a wig party nationalist at the time started the republican party in the northern United States of America and ran for election in 1860 during the Civil War.

Therefore, that means with the Democratic Party being 26 years older than the Republican party they should be the grand old party. Not the Republican party. That in fact is a 26 year old age gap between the start of the Democratic Party and the republican party; if we wanted to be historically accurate.

Other than that this book is a great piece of American history. Highly recommend reading it after you read this review.

The story is good but OMG this is the WORST READER

This guy sounds like he cant breathe at the end of every sentence. WORST READER I HAVE EVER HAD TO LISTEN TO , PLEASE STOP RUINING BOOKS. Couldn't understand certain words and seems to cut off sentences.