Abe Murdock

Orrice Abram "Abe" Murdock Jr. (July 18, 1893 – September 15, 1979) was an American attorney and politician who served as a member of both chambers of the United States Congress for Utah. From 1947 to 1957, he served as a member of the National Labor Relations Board.

"Senator Murdock" redirects here. For the Utah State Senate member, see Joseph Royal Murdock.
Abe Murdock
Member of the National Labor Relations Board
In office
August 1, 1947 – December 16, 1957
United States Senator
from Utah
In office
January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1947
Preceded byWilliam H. King
Succeeded byArthur V. Watkins
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1941
Preceded byDon B. Colton
Succeeded byWalter K. Granger
Personal details
Born
Orrice Abram Murdock Jr.

(1893-07-18)July 18, 1893
Austin, Nevada
DiedSeptember 15, 1979(1979-09-15) (aged 86)
Bethesda, Maryland
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary Violet Yardley Murdock
Children6
EducationUniversity of Utah

Early life and education

Born in Austin, Nevada, he moved with his parents to Beaver, Utah, in 1898. Murdock attended the public schools and Murdock Academy in Beaver, and the University of Utah at Salt Lake City.

Career

Murdock studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1922.

Early political career

He was a member of the Beaver city council in 1920 and 1921 and was county attorney in 1923–1924, 1927–1928, and 1931–1932. He served as city attorney of Beaver from 1926 to 1933, and was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for district attorney for the fifth Utah district in 1928.

Congress

In 1932, Murdock ran for and was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third Congress and was reelected to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1933, to January 3, 1941.

Senate

Instead of running for reelection in 1940, he challenged incumbent Senator William H. King for the Democratic nomination. King had opposed President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's proposal to expand the Supreme Court and Roosevelt's candidacy for an unprecedented third term, while Murdock was a "100% New Dealer" who strongly supported Roosevelt.[1] Murdock defeated King for the nomination and was elected as a Democrat to the Senate, serving from January 3, 1941, to January 3, 1947.

Murdock was defeated by Republican Arthur Vivian Watkins in his bid for reelection in 1946.

Later career

After his defeat, he resumed the practice of law and engaged in agricultural pursuits and livestock raising. From 1947 to 1957, he was a member of the National Labor Relations Board and in 1960 was a member of the Atomic Energy Labor-Management Relations Panel.

Death and burial

Murdock died of natural causes in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1979, and was interred in Mountain View Cemetery in Beaver, Utah.

Electoral history
1932 United States House of Representatives elections[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abe Murdock 47,774 51.59
Republican Don B. Colton (Incumbent) 44,827 48.41
Total votes 92,601 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican
1934 United States House of Representatives elections[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abe Murdock (Incumbent) 55,800 64.43
Republican Arthur Woolley 29,878 34.51
Socialist William J. McConnell 644 0.74
Communist Lawrence Mower 279 0.32
Total votes 86,601 100.0
Democratic hold
1936 United States House of Representatives elections[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abe Murdock (Incumbent) 68,877 69.23
Republican Charles W. Dunn 30,415 30.57
Socialist William J. McConnell 202 0.20
Total votes 99,494 100.0
Democratic hold
1938 United States House of Representatives elections[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abe Murdock (Incumbent) 52,927 59.66
Republican LeRoy B. Young 35,790 40.34
Total votes 88,717 100.0
Democratic hold
1940 United States Senate election in Utah
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abe Murdock 155,499 62.85
Republican Philo Farnsworth 91,931 37.15
Majority 63,568 25.70
Turnout 247,430
Democratic hold
1946 United States Senate election in Utah
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arthur Vivian Watkins 101,142 51.24%
Democratic Abe Murdock (incumbent) 96,257 48.76%
Majority 4,885 2.48%
Turnout 197,399
Republican gain from Democratic

References
  1. "UTAH: King into Exile". Time. September 16, 1940 – via content.time.com.
  2. "1932 Election Results" (PDF).
  3. "1934 Election Results" (PDF).
  4. "1936 Election Results" (PDF).
  5. "1938 Election Results" (PDF).
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