Evening star., 1961-11-27
Senator Bridges Dies;
Held High Party Post

| 7eIu HI9n
Styles Bridges, the farm boy
who became the most influen-
tial Republican in the United
States Senate, is dead.
Senator Bridges 25-year serv-
| ice at the Capitol ended when
he died in his sleep early yes
lterday at his Concord IN. H.
home. The 63-year-old Sena-
tor had been in i'll health since
a heart attack September 20.
The body will lie in state in
the New Hampshire State House
Hall of Flags from 2 pm. to-
morrow until services at noon
Wednesday.
While President Kennedy and
many other leaders conveyed
messages of sympathy and ap-
probation for the Senator's
long service. speculation grew
as to who would succeed him
both in his seat and in the
Republican leadership.
Governor Mentioned
Many in traditionally Re-
publican New Hampshire be-
lieved Republican Gov. Wesley
Powell, a graduate of Senator
Bridges staff, would succeed
him, although some reports
mentioned the Senator's widow
The appointee will hold the
seat only until the 1852 elec-
ton, when voters will elect a
Senator to complete Senator
Bridges fifth term, which ex-
pires in 1866.
Regarded by most as an ar
ticulate spokesman for the con-
servative point of view, Senator
Bridges called himself a mid
dle-of -the-roader."
| Whatever his true position,
it appeared likely more liberal
party members would attempt
in the next term to fill his
Senate Republican Policy Com
mittee chairmanship with a
man Of their persuasion.
High Committee Posts
Senator Bridges also was
ranking @. o. P. member of
the powerful Appropriations
Committee and second ranking
Republican behind Senator
Saltonstall, Republican of Mas
sachusetts) on the Armed Ser
vices Committee. He headed
the Appropriations Committee
during the Eisenhower admin
stration.
After extending condolences
by telephone to the Senator's
widow. President Kennedy in
a statement described him as
"a great patriot who devoted
his life to the continuing
strength of our country"
Former President Dwight D.
Eisenhower said that in his
close association with Senator
Bridges he "came to learn how
deeply he was dedicated to the
good of our Nation"
Said former President Harry
Truman. who served in the
Senate with him: Il was very
fond of Senator Bridges. He
was a good man."
Praise From Nixon
Former Vice President Rich
ard M. Nixon, emphasizing
Senator Bridges ceaseless fight
to strengthen his party, said
he was "one of the most ef-
fective political leaders ever
produced by the Republican
Party"
Recalling that Senator Bridges
served with only 16 Republicans
when he was elected in 1895,
Senator Bush. Republican of
Connecticut. praised him for
Ibis determined efforts for the
next 10 years to bring his
party to an effective national
position"
From the time he entered
Congress, Senator Bridges was
never one to mince words. This
had special application to COM
munism.
Last May when Cuban Prime
Minister Fidel Castro proposed
exchange of United States trac-
tors. the Senator called it "a
heinous barter" by an "inhu-
man monster"
Foe Of AppeaSement
Last June he demanded Pres
ident Kennedy reaffirm the
United States policy of defend
ing West Berlin. saying "the
urgency of the moment is sur
vival iteself."
And just before he was hos
pitalized for a lung congestion
in August. he demanded a
Senate investigation CT a De-
fense Department directive
which he claimed prevented
military officers from speaking
out on Communist infiltration
and foreign policy matters.
On communism, Senator
Bridges one stated his creed
thus: II would not appease
communism by any action
which sacrifices one inch of
free land, one human life or
one American principle"
His election record of no de-
feats bespeakS the affection
and reSnect in which he uas