Grand Old Party U.S. politics.
[See grand a. 10 d.]
† 1. The Democratic party. Obs.
Used without capitals and perhaps not specific.
| 1879 Congress. Record 11 June 1913/1 We are for national politics now. We come back to the grand old party of the North. 1888 Ibid. 10 May 3981/1, I am glad that I am a member of that grand old party that assures a better trade to our people, larger wages &c. |
2. The Republican party. Now usu. in abbreviated form G.O.P.
| 1876 Cincinnati Comm. in Harper's Weekly (1884) 576/3 Grand Old Party. 1884 N.Y. Tribune 15 Oct. 4/5 ‘The G.O.P. doomed,’ shouted the Boston Post... The Grand Old Party is in condition to inquire [etc.]. 1888 Congress. Record 1 May 3598/1 Old Farmer: Is this Democratic doings or Republican doings? Collector: O, it is the doings of the G.O.P.,—the grand old party,—the Republican party. 1898 Ibid. 7 Jan. 444/1 Has the Grand Old Party (G.O.P.) so called never been corrupt? Has it never had dishonest men in it? 1904 N.Y. Even. Post 25 Aug. 6 A close examination of Republican speeches fails to reveal an instance in which the Democracy is portrayed as on a parity with the Grand Old Party. 1960 Detroit News 16 Aug. 18B/1 The Nixon influence..has sought to capitalize on the new appeal of the GOP. 1964 Knebel & Bailey Convention vi. 88 Right now, this has the makings of the closest G.O.P. nomination contest since the Eisenhower-Taft fight in 1952. |