Freedom Calendar 12/30/06 - 01/06/07

December 30, 1842, Birth of Republican U.S. Rep. Josiah Walls, who in 1871 became Florida’s first African-American in Congress.

December 31, 1898, Republican Theodore Roosevelt becomes Governor of New York; in 1900, he outlawed racial segregation in New York public schools.

January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation, implementing the Republicans’ Confiscation Act of 1862, takes effect.

January 2, 1895, Republicans Clara Cressingham, Carrie C. Holly, and Frances S. Klock of Colorado are sworn in as first women to serve in a state legislature in U.S. history.

January 3, 1933, Republican Minnie Davenport Craig (R-ND) elected as first woman to be Speaker of the House in a state legislature.

January 4, 1995, Speaker Newt Gingrich appoints Republican Cheryl Lau first Asian-American woman to serve as General Counsel of U.S. House; Republican Robin Carle becomes first woman elected Clerk of U.S. House.

January 5, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt nominates African-American physician William D. Crum as Collector of Customs, over racist objections from Senate Democrats.

January 6, 1874, African-American U.S. Rep. Robert B. Elliott (R-SC) delivers eloquent hour-long speech supporting Republicans’ civil rights bill.

“The first Republican I knew was my father and he is still the Republican I most admire. He joined our party because the Democrats inJim Crow Alabama of 1952 would not register him to vote. The Republicans did. My father has never forgotten that day, and neither have I."

Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State

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