National Affairs: The Style of Bridges

In a skillful display of his cloakroom style, New Hampshire's Styles Bridges, 60, last week bolstered his position, held since Ohio's Robert Taft died in 1953, as the behind-the-scenes leader of Senate Republicans. As usual he refused (for health reasons, he again explained) to consider a move from his powerful position on the Appropriations Committee to take on the minority leader title. He preferred instead to back Illinois' Everett Dirksen for the job. To crown Dirksen, Bridges had first to put down a stubborn revolt of Vermont's George Aiken and six other Senate liberals (TIME. Jan. 12) lined up behind Kentucky's...

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