Reading Heather Cox Richardson’s column of June 26, 2026, I realized I am a 1956 Republican.
In 1956, the Republican Party platform approvingly quoted “the great truth first spoken by Abraham Lincoln” that “[t]he 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.”
The 2026 government DOGEs its way to harming its citizens. The top 1% of households in the U.S. own 31.7% of all U.S. wealth. So the wealthiest 1% held roughly as much in assets as the bottom 90% of Americans combined.
The platform went on to affirm the party’s determination “that our children and their children, without distinction because of race, creed or color, may know the blessings of our free land.”
The assault on diversity and equity continues largely unabated.
It called for “unimpeachable ethical standards and irreproachable personal conduct by all people in government.” Honesty was “an indispensable requirement of public service,” party officials said.
FOTUS and his friends. What else needs to be said?
Basic human needs
The Republicans of 1956 also said they were “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 better health protection for all our people. We are determined that our government remain warmly responsive to the urgent social and economic problems of our people.”
A housing bill was actually passed by this Congress, but held hostage by FOTUS. Fixing Social Security by raising the earnings cap—which stands at $184,500 in 2026—would address the potential crisis in 2032, when benefits would otherwise be slashed by about 20%.
They called for helping foreign countries strengthen their economies and supported “U.S. participation in an international fund for economic development.” “We shall continue,” they said, “vigorously to support the United Nations” and to maintain U.S. military strength “as a deterrent to aggression and as a guardian of the peace…for these objectives only.”
That has been slashed.
Then the Republican Party platform addressed the needs of workers. Quoting President Dwight D. Eisenhower, it said: “Labor is the United States. The men and women who, with their minds, their hearts and hands, create the wealth that is shared in this country—they are America.”
Support the workers!
The platform noted that Republicans had worked to raise the minimum wage and expand Social Security, unemployment, workers’ compensation, and retirement benefits. They supported the growth of labor unions and collective bargaining.
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009.
They would, they said, “continue to fight for dynamic and progressive programs which, among other things, will: [s]timulate improved job safety of our workers; [c]ontinue and further perfect its programs of assistance to the millions of workers with special employment problems, such as older workers, handicapped workers, members of minority groups, and migratory workers;…improve the effectiveness of the unemployment insurance system;…[a]ssure equal pay for equal work regardless of Sex;” extend minimum wage laws; [c]ontinue to fight for the elimination of discrimination in employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry or sex;” and “[p]rovide assistance to improve the economic conditions of areas faced with persistent and substantial unemployment.”
“The Republican Party believes that the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of the people is as important as their economic health,” the platform said. “It will continue to support this conviction with vigorous action.”
I would DEFINITELY vote for these 1956 Republicans! Kenneth Keating was a House member and later Senator from New York who was “influential in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1957.” Jacob Javits, Republican senator from New York from 1957 to 1981… championed the rights of the average American, often supporting federal spending on health care, education, housing, and the arts and humanities.” Both men would be instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Bill of 1964.
Their 2026 counterparts? Based on what I’ve seen, I wouldn’t consider any of them at all. FOTUS called the high court’s ruling on birthright citizenship “too bad,” but said “Congress can ‘easily’ pass legislation on the matter. In the wake of the ruling, multiple GOP lawmakers backed legislative changes to birthright citizenship.” Fortunately, they are likely to need a constitutional amendment.
An 
Heather Cox Richardson: “On May 22, 1964, in a graduation 
I was heading to take the bus to attend my choir rehearsal one cold February evening. Even several dozen meters away, I could hear someone at my stop, saying, repeatedly, “Do you know about the Missouri Compromise? Remember the 14th Amendment!”
You know that end-of-the-year quiz I do? This one question is taking up too much space.