Republicans: Newest & Youngest

When the U.S. Senate convenes next month, its newest member will also be its youngest. Named last week to replace veteran Republican Styles Bridges, who died three weeks ago: New Hampshire’s Attorney General Maurice J. Murphy Jr., 34.

Son of a Dover, N.H., Democratic mayor, Murphy switched his own political affiliation, became a Republican in 1953. Three years ago, he helped in Republican Wesley Powell’s successful campaign for Governor; his reward was an appointment as Powell’s executive assistant. A shy, soft-spoken man who blushes easily, Roman Catholic Murphy was named deputy attorney general last January, became attorney general only last month, when Incumbent Gardner Turner resigned because of illness. Preparing to move on to the Senate, Murphy promised to uphold the conservative doctrine preached there by Styles Bridges. He would also serve as the protégé of Wesley Powell, who was plainly assuming political primacy in the state that Bridges had dominated for nearly 30 years.