Maurice J. Murphy, Jr.

For the British trumpet player, see Maurice Murphy.

Maurice J. Murphy, Jr.
United States Senator from New Hampshire
In office December 7, 1961 – November 6, 1962
Preceded by	Styles Bridges
Succeeded by	Thomas J. McIntyre
Personal details
Born	October 3, 1927 Dover, New Hampshire
Died	October 27, 2002(2002-10-27) (aged 75) Stratham, New Hampshire
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	College of the Holy Cross Boston College Law School

Maurice J. ("Moe") Murphy, Jr. (October 3, 1927 – October 27, 2002) was (for one month) the New Hampshire Attorney General and (for eleven months) an appointed United States Senator.

Born in Dover, New Hampshire, he graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1950 and from Boston College Law School in 1953. He was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Portsmouth in 1955. He served as an enlisted man in the United States Army in 1946 and 1947 and again in 1953 and 1954. He was legal counsel to the New Hampshire Senate in 1957-1958, and administrative assistant to Governor Wesley Powell from 1959 to 1961. After serving as deputy attorney general for several months, Murphy was appointed by Governor Powell as New Hampshire Attorney General, and took office on November 4, 1961.^[1] Three weeks later, the longest-serving U.S. Senator, conservative Republican H. Styles Bridges, died in office. On December 7, 1961, Governor Powell appointed Murphy as U.S. Senator, to fill the vacancy until a November 1962 special election. Powell's choice of Murphy was controversial; powerful publisher William Loeb published a front-page editorial in the Manchester Union Leader attacking Powell for passing over the late Senator's widow Doloris Bridges.^[2]

Murphy ran in the 1962 election in an effort to keep his seat. However, Murphy was challenged in the primary by Doloris Bridges, Congressman Perkins Bass, and Congressman Chester Merrow.^[2] Murphy finished third behind Bass and Mrs. Styles.^[3] Governor Powell, too, was defeated in that primary, and in his election night speech, he referenced Loeb's opposition and added that "I'm paying the penalty for appointing a Catholic to the U.S. Senate."^[3]

Murphy then resumed the practice of law. He was chairman of the board and general counsel of the Portsmouth (N.H.) Savings Bank from 1968 to 1988. At the time of his death in 2002, he resided in Stratham, New Hampshire. He was interred in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Greenland, New Hampshire.

References

1. ^ "Attorney General: Names Murphy to Bridges Post," Nashua Telegraph, 1961-12-07 at 1-2.
2. ^ ^{a b} "Charm of Murphy and Avid Workers Help Cause," Nashua Telegraph, 1962-08-21 at 1-3.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Bass Defeats Mrs. Bridges for Senate Seat," Nashua Telegraph 1962-09-12 at 1.

• Maurice J. Murphy, Jr. at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

Biography portal

• Maurice J. Murphy, Jr. at Find a Grave

United States Senate
Preceded by H. Styles Bridges	United States Senator (Class 2) from New Hampshire 1961 – 1962 Served alongside: Norris H. Cotton	Succeeded by Thomas J. McIntyre
Honorary titles
Preceded by John Tower	Youngest Member of the United States Senate January 10, 1962 – November 6, 1962	Succeeded by Ted Kennedy

Persondata
Name	Murphy, Maurice J., Jr.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 3, 1927
Place of birth	Dover, New Hampshire
Date of death	October 27, 2002
Place of death	Stratham, New Hampshire