A series of DNA hairpins (AqGn) possessing a tethered anthraquinone (Aq) end-capping group were synthesized in which the distance between the Aq and a guanine-cytosine (G-C) base pair was systematically varied by changing the number (n - 1) of adenine-thymine (A-T) base pairs between them. The photophysics and photochemistry of these hairpins were investigated using nanosecond transient absorption and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy. Upon photoexcitation, (l)*Aq undergoes rapid intersystem crossing to yield (3)*Aq, which is capable of oxidizing purine nucleobases resulting in the formation of (3)(Aq(-center dot)Gn(+center dot)). All (3)(Aq(-center dot)Gn(+center dot)) radical ion pairs exhibit asymmetric TREPR spectra with an electron spin polarization phase pattern of absorption and enhanced emission (A/E) due to their different triplet spin sublevel populations, which are derived from the corresponding non-Boltzmann spin sublevel populations of the (3)*Aq precursor. The TREPR spectra of the (3)(Aq(-center dot)Gn(+center dot)) radical ion pairs depend strongly on their spin spin dipolar interaction and weakly on their spin spin exchange coupling. The anisotropy of (3)(Aq(-center dot)Gri(+center dot)) makes it possible to determine that the pi systems of Aq(-center dot) and G(+center dot) within the radical ion pair are parallel to one another. Charge recombination of the long-lived (3)(Aq(-center dot)Gn(+center dot)) radical ion pair displays an unusual bimodal distance dependence that results from a change in the rate-determining step for charge recombination from radical pair intersystem crossing for n < 4 to coherent superexchange for n > 4.