Frontier History is a monthly series that highlights the compelling stories of Montana’s historical trail blazers that bucked the notion that the government is the solution to all of our problems and sought out ways to improve Montana without relying on the government’s favor or their purse. Opinions expressed by guest authors do not necessarily represent the positions of the Frontier Institute.
"We remember Gary Cooper not because he was a run-of-the-mill actor but because he was uncommonly good—just like the heroes he played and the hero he was."
"He restrained spending and vetoed more bills than the previous 23 presidents combined."
"For the sake of our liberties, we could use more judges like him both in Montana and in Washington, D.C."
"In 1923, the people of Butte appreciated a President who didn’t try to buy votes with other people’s money, who cut government spending and balanced the budget."
"What the government giveth, it can sooner or later taketh away. That’s a lesson that Granite learned the hard way."
"Opposition to religious persecution is one of this country’s most important founding principles."
"Americans can be thankful that the cynical effort to corrupt the Court in 1937 was defeated by principled legislators like Montana’s Burton K. Wheeler."
"His name was John Bozeman. His short life is a tale of frontier entrepreneurship."
"The founder’s personal popularity, more than two centuries since he died, is a testimony to the power of product over politics."
"Even good governments are tempted to bend the rules, but we should all be glad when the rules are good and are there for a good reason."
"I believe in the Constitution, strength in national defense, limited government, individual freedom, and personal responsibility."
"The kid from Jersey was awed by the freewheeling culture of the territories west of the Mississippi."
"Early Montana culture was far from stuck-in-the-mud. Rather, it was a sort of radical openness — where all people were welcome to put roots down in this wild and wonderful state, free to take risks by staking a claim or starting a business and free to work hard chasing opportunity."
"Don’t expect the world to throw subsidies at you because you think you’re good."