Abe Murdock

"Senator Murdock" redirects here. For the Utah State Senate member, see Joseph R. Murdock.

Orrice Abram 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.

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 by	William H. King
Succeeded by	Arthur V. Watkins
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah's 1st district
In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1941
Preceded by	Don B. Colton
Succeeded by	Walter K. Granger
Personal details
Born	Orrice Abram Murdock Jr. (1893-07-18)July 18, 1893 Austin, Nevada, U.S.
Died	September 15, 1979(1979-09-15) (aged 86) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Resting place	Mountain View Cemetery in Beaver, Utah
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Violet Yardley Murdock
Children	6
Education	University of Utah

Early life and education

Born in Austin, Nevada,^[1] 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.^[2] 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^[3]

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^[4]

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^[5]

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^[6]

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