I was once a proud Republican attending Marysville precinct meetings and voting like a good Republican. But that was before the party found itself lock-stepped with greed-driven interests. It wasn’t always that way and it may yet find its way back to its roots.

At its 1956 convention, the Republican Party reaffirmed a great truth first spoken by Abraham Lincoln: “The legitimate object of Government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do, for themselves in their separate and individual capacities. But in all that people can individually do as well for themselves, Government ought not to interfere.” Good words.

President Eisenhower (R) counseled the convention further. “In all those things which deal with people, be liberal, be human. In all those things which deal with people’s money, or their economy, or their form of government, be conservative.” More good words. What follows are excerpts from his 1956 second-term platform. See how they compare with the party’s positions today. If a lot of it sounds left-leaning, understand that Republicans were a party of the people in those days.

• We shall ever build anew, that our children and their children, without distinction because of race, creed or color, may know the blessings of our free land.

• We believe that basic to governmental integrity are unimpeachable ethical standards and irreproachable personal conduct by all people in government. We shall continue our insistence on honesty as an indispensable requirement of public service. We shall continue to root out corruption whenever and wherever it appears.

• We are proud of and shall continue our far reaching and sound advances in matters of basic human needs expansion of social security, broadened coverage in unemployment insurance, improved housing and remain warmly responsive to the urgent social and economic problems of health protection for all our people.

• We hold that the major world issue today is whether Government shall be the servant or the master of men. We hold that the Bill of Rights is the sacred foundation of personal liberty. That men are created equal needs no affirmation, but they must have equality of opportunity and protection of their civil rights under the law.

• Further reductions in taxes with particular consideration for low and middle income families.

• The Republican Party has as a primary concern for the continued advancement of the well-being of the individual. This can be attained only in an economy that, as today, is sound, free and creative, ever building new wealth and new jobs for all the people.

• Legislation to enable closer Federal scrutiny of mergers which have a significant or potential monopolistic connotation;

• Procedural changes in the anti-trust laws to facilitate their enforcement.

• Continuance of the vigorous SEC policies which are providing maximum protection to the investor and maximum opportunity for the financing of small business without costly red tape.

• Strengthen and improve the Federal State Employment Service and improve the effectiveness of the unemployment insurance system;

• Protect by law, the assets of employee welfare and benefit plans so that workers who are the beneficiaries can be assured of their rightful benefits;

• Assure equal pay for equal work regardless of sex;

• Clarify and strengthen the eight hour laws for the benefit of workers who are subject to federal wage standards on Federal and Federally assisted construction, and maintain and continue the vigorous administration of the Federal prevailing minimum wage law for public supply contracts;

• Extend the protection of the Federal minimum wage laws to as many more workers as is possible and practicable.

• Revise and improve the Taft-Hartley Act so as to protect more effectively the rights of labor unions, management, the individual workers, and the public. The protection of the right of workers to organize into unions and to bargain collectively is the firm and permanent policy of the Eisenhower Administration.

• That compensation for injuries and disease arising out of service be fairly and generously provided for all disabled veterans and for their dependents or survivors;

• That all veterans be given equal and adequate opportunity for readjustment following service, including unemployment compensation when needed, but placing emphasis on obtaining suitable employment for veterans, particularly those disabled, by using appropriate facilities of government and by assuring the Federal employment preference and re-employment rights, to which the veteran is entitled, are received.

• We subscribe to the general objectives of groups seeking to guard the beauty of our land and to promote clean, attractive surroundings throughout America.

• We recognize the need for maintaining isolated wilderness areas to provide opportunity for future generations to experience some of the wilderness living through which the traditional American spirit of hardihood was developed.

All of it speaks of a generosity of spirit that is sadly missing today. Is it because President Obama’s competence has the GOP’s Good Old Boys suffering a hissy-fit? Is it because the party’s closet-racists can’t forgive our president for being Black, or that alpha-males are fuming because a woman is wielding a gavel? That President Obama being is intellectually and tactically out in front drives ultra-rightists nuts. Their consternation is such that they forget why voters elected them to Congress.

It will take a return to Republican ideals of 1956 before either party can move to restore civility and progress to Congress and put an end to destructive political power-plays.

Comments may be addressed to: rgraef@verizon.net.