Kind of lengthy, but here’s some excerpts from the Republican party’s 1956 presidential platform under Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon: 
Some basic tenets of your Father’s Republican party:
Our Government was created by the people for all the people, and it must serve no less a purpose.
The Republican Party was formed 100 years ago to preserve the Nation’s devotion to these ideals.
On its Centennial, the Republican Party again calls to the minds of all Americans the 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.”
Our great President Dwight D. Eisenhower has counseled us 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.”
[...]
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 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.
To these beliefs we commit ourselves as we present this record and declare our goals for the future.
In the “Preamble” to the Republican Party platform in 2012:
The principles written in the Constitution are secured by the character of the American people. President George Washington said in his first inaugural address: “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” Values matter. Character counts.
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan understand these great truths. They share a positive vision for America — a vision of America renewed and strong. They know America’s best days lay ahead. It will take honest results-oriented, conservative leadership to enact good policies for our people. They will provide it.
[...]
How far they’ve fallen. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are the epitome of George Washington, according to Republicans.
Taxation and fiscal policy in 1956:
Gradual reduction of the national debt.
Continual study of additional ways to correct inequities in the effect of various taxes.
(To correct the inequities… the top marginal rate in 1957 was 91%.)
Business and Economic Policy 1956:
We believe in good business for all business—small, medium and large. We believe that competition in a free economy opens unrivaled opportunity and brings the greatest good to the greatest number.
Small Business
Small Business can look forward to expanded participation in federal procurement—valuable financing and technical aids—a continuously vigorous enforcement of anti-trust laws—important cuts in the burdens of paper work, and certain tax reductions as budgetary requirements permit.[...]
We also propose:
Additional technical research in problems of development and distribution for the benefit of small business;
Legislation to enable closer Federal scrutiny of mergers which have a significant or potential monopolistic connotations;
Procedural changes in the antitrust laws to facilitate their enforcement;
Simplification of wage reporting by employers for purposes of social security records and income tax withholding;
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.
Labor:
We applaud the effective, unhindered, collective bargaining which brought an early end to the 1956 steel strike, in contrast to the six months’ upheaval, Presidential seizure of the steel industry and ultimate Supreme Court intervention under the last Democrat Administration.
The Eisenhower Administration will continue to fight for dynamic and progressive programs which, among other things, will:
Stimulate improved job safety of our workers, through assistance to the States, employees and employers;
Continue 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;
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;
Continue to fight for the elimination of discrimination in employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry or sex;
Provide assistance to improve the economic conditions of areas faced with persistent and substantial unemployment;
Revise and improve the Taft-Hartley Act so as to protect more effectively the rights of labor unions, management, the individual worker, 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.
Health, Education, and Welfare:
The Republican Party believes that the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of the people is as important as their economic health. It will continue to support this conviction with vigorous action.
[...]
Republican action created the Department of Health, Education and Welfare as the first new Federal department in 40 years, to raise the continuing consideration of these problems for the first time to the highest council of Government, the President’s Cabinet.
[...]
Republican leadership has enlarged Federal assistance for construction of hospitals, emphasizing low-cost care of chronic diseases and the special problems of older persons, and increased Federal aid for medical care of the needy.
We have asked the largest increase in research funds ever sought in one year to intensify attacks on cancer, mental illness, heart disease and other dread diseases.
We have encouraged a notable expansion and improvement of voluntary health insurance, and urge that reinsurance and pooling arrangements be authorized to speed this progress.
We have strengthened the Food and Drug Administration, and we have increased the vocational rehabilitation program to enable a larger number of the disabled to return to satisfying activity.[...]
We shall continue to seek extension and perfection of a sound social security system.
Postal Service:
We pledge to continue and to complete this vitally needed program of modernization of buildings, equipment, methods and service, so that the American people will receive the kind of mail delivery they deserve—the speediest and best that American ingenuity, technology and modern business management can provide.
Civil Rights:
In the area of exclusive Federal jurisdiction, more progress has been made in this field under the present Republican Administration than in any similar period in the last 80 years.
[...]
The regulatory agencies under this Administration have moved vigorously to end discrimination in interstate commerce. Segregation in the active Armed Forces of the United States has been ended. For the first time in our history there is no segregation in veterans’ hospitals and among civilians on naval bases. This is an impressive record. We pledge ourselves to continued progress in this field.
The Republican Party has unequivocally recognized that the supreme law of the land is embodied in the Constitution, which guarantees to all people the blessings of liberty, due process and equal protection of the laws. It confers upon all native-born and naturalized citizens not only citizenship in the State where the individual resides but citizenship of the United States as well. This is an unqualified right, regardless of race, creed or color.
The Republican Party accepts the decision of the U.S.. Supreme Court that racial discrimination in publicly supported schools must be progressively eliminated. We concur in the conclusion of the Supreme Court that its decision directing school desegregation should be accomplished with “all deliberate speed” locally through Federal District Courts.
Immigration:
The Republican Party supports an immigration policy which is in keeping with the traditions of America in providing a haven for oppressed peoples, and which is based on equality of treatment, freedom from implications of discrimination between racial, nationality and religious groups, and flexible enough to conform to changing needs and conditions.
Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, National Parks and the Environment:
Policies of sound conservation and wise development—originally advanced half a century ago under that preeminent Republican conservation team of President Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot and amplified by succeeding Republican Administrations—have been pursued by the Eisenhower Administration. While meeting the essential development needs of the people, this Administration has conserved and safeguarded our natural resources for the greatest good of all, now and in the future.
[...]
We favor full recognition of recreation as an important public use of our national forests and public domain lands.
We favor a comprehensive study of the effect upon wildlife of the drainage of our wetlands.
We favor recognition, by the States, of wild-life and recreation management and conservation as a beneficial use of water.
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.
Do you recognize any of that? Contrast this with today’s Republican party which seeks to abolish labor unions, a minimum wage; privatize the post office, social security, and Medicare. To Republicans like Rand Paul, Eisenhower’s pledge to use the federal government to enforce Civil Rights laws, or protect Americans with disabilities is an infringement on business to openly discriminate.
Today’s Republican party seeks to repeal access to an affordable, regulated healthcare insurance market; outlaw sound environmental policy; To take away food from the poor and give it to billionaires; encourage monopolies, concentrated wealth, and “Drill, baby, Drill!”
They seek to shut down the FDA, EPA, and departments of Energy and Education.
To criminalize abortion because God says.
They’ve instituted barriers to the vote, making them the true enemies of freedom and democracy.
To do all of this they are willing to plunge the country into chaos and debt, uncertainty, and under the banner of “freedom and liberty.”
Today’s Republican party believes that it isn’t conservative, or radical enough. The lunatics are running the asylum. This Republican party buried its fathers, spit on their graves, cashed in the insurance policy and used the proceeds to make war with its own country.
We’re all targets for the gun nuts, now. We’re all to be punished for our lack of faith in today’s abusive and out of control Republican party. To be taught a Biblical lesson in jack-booted authoritarianism– for our own good.
Your father’s Republican party would have taken these spoiled, belligerent, know-nothing punks and billionaires out back and taught them an old fashioned lesson in patriotism.