Styles Bridges

Styles Bridges
Name	Styles Bridges
Caption	Bridges c. 1950s
Order	63rd Governor of New Hampshire
Term start	January 3, 1935
Term end	January 7, 1937
Predecessor	John G. Winant
Successor	Francis P. Murphy
Office2	United States Senator, from New Hampshire
Term start2	January 3, 1937
Term end2	November 26, 1961
Predecessor2	Henry W. Keyes
Successor2	Maurice J. Murphy Jr.
Birth name	Henry Styles Bridges
Birth date	9 September 1898
Birth place	West Pembroke, Maine, U.S.
Death date	26 November 1961
Death place	Concord, New Hampshire, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Sally Clement (m. 1920; div. 1927), Doloris Thauwald (m. 1961)
Education	University of Maine (BS)

Styles Bridges was a prominent Republican politician who served as the 63rd Governor of New Hampshire and later as a United States Senator from the state for over two decades. A formidable figure in New England politics, he rose to become Senate Minority Leader and was a leading conservative voice during the administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. His career was marked by staunch anti-communism, fiscal conservatism, and significant influence over Senate appropriations.

Early life and education

Henry Styles Bridges was born in West Pembroke, Maine, and attended local schools before earning a degree in agriculture from the University of Maine. After graduation, he moved to New Hampshire, where he worked as an editor for the Granite Monthly magazine and became involved in agricultural organizations. His early career in journalism and farm advocacy in Concord provided a foundation for his entry into public service and the New Hampshire Republican State Committee.

Political career

Bridges began his political career by serving on the New Hampshire Public Service Commission, where he gained a reputation for efficiency. His work caught the attention of Governor John G. Winant, who appointed him as New Hampshire State Treasurer in 1930. In this role during the Great Depression, Bridges advocated for balanced budgets and fiscal restraint, principles that defined his later career and helped him secure the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1934.

Governorship of New Hampshire

Elected in 1934, Bridges served a single two-year term as Governor of New Hampshire from 1935 to 1937. His administration focused on economic recovery, promoting tourism and industry while opposing many New Deal programs from the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. He successfully advocated for a state sales tax to address budget deficits, a controversial move that nonetheless stabilized state finances. Choosing not to seek re-election, he instead successfully ran for the United States Senate in 1936.

U.S. Senate career

Bridges served in the United States Senate from 1937 until his death in 1961, becoming one of the chamber's most influential members. A leader of the Conservative coalition, he was a vocal critic of the New Deal and an early advocate for preparedness against the Axis powers. He served as Senate Minority Leader from 1952 to 1953 and chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. A staunch Cold War hawk, he was a close ally of Senator Joseph McCarthy and supported interventions in Korea and Vietnam. His "Bridges Committee" investigations targeted perceived subversion in government.

Later life and death

In his later years, Bridges remained a powerful figure in the Republican leadership, advising President Dwight D. Eisenhower and later becoming a critic of the John F. Kennedy administration's foreign policy. He suffered a heart attack and died suddenly in Concord, New Hampshire, on November 26, 1961. His funeral was attended by numerous political dignitaries, including former President Herbert Hoover and Senator Everett Dirksen.

Legacy and honors

Bridges is remembered as one of New Hampshire's most consequential politicians. The Styles Bridges Highway in Concord and the Styles Bridges Post Office are named in his honor. His papers are held at the University of New Hampshire. As a kingmaker in New England politics, he helped launch the careers of figures like Senator Norris Cotton. His legacy is that of a pragmatic conservative who wielded significant power through committee leadership and party loyalty.

Category:1898 births Category:1961 deaths Category:Governors of New Hampshire Category:United States senators from New Hampshire Category:Republican Party United States senators