Patrick J. Hillings
Encyclopedia
Patrick Jerome Hillings was a Republican
U.S. Representative
from California
who succeeded Richard M. Nixon
in Congress. He was initially elected to California's 12th congressional district
, which was renumbered as California's 25th congressional district
prior to the 1952 election.
Hillings was born in 1923 in Hobart Mills, California
, where he attended the public schools. He attended the University of Southern California
until March 1943, when he entered the United States Army Signal Corps. He was stationed in the South Pacific
and served as a sergeant
in the Intelligence Service until February 1946.
Returning to USC, Hillings received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1947 and a Juris Doctor
degree in 1949. He was admitted to the bar
in 1949 and commenced the practice of law in Arcadia, California
. He served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention
s in 1952, 1956, 1960, and 1964 and supported Dwight D. Eisenhower
(twice), Nixon, and Barry Goldwater
, respectively.
Hillings was elected to the Eighty-second
and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951-January 3, 1959) from a seat vacated by Richard Nixon when he ran successfully for the U.S. Senate in 1950. After four terms in the House of Representatives, Hillings did not seek renomination in 1958, but was an unsuccessful candidate for Attorney General of California, an office vacated by Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, Sr.
in his successful bid for governor
. Hillings was defeated by Democrat Stanley Mosk
, who would later become the longest-serving justice in the history of the California Supreme Court.
After his unsuccessful bid for attorney general, Hillings resumed his law practice in Los Angeles. He served as chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Los Angeles County
in 1960-61. In 1970, he ran in a special Republican primary to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Glenard P. Lipscomb
in California's 24th congressional district
, but was defeated for the nomination by John H. Rousselot
, who went on to win the special general election. Hillings directed the presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan
in Florida
in 1979-80.
Hillings resided in Los Angeles until his death in Palm Desert, California
in 1994.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
who succeeded Richard M. Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
in Congress. He was initially elected to California's 12th congressional district
California's 12th congressional district
California's 12th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that spans from the southwestern portions of San Francisco in the north down to San Mateo in the south, and from Moss Beach in the west to the edge of San Mateo in the east, where it borders...
, which was renumbered as California's 25th congressional district
California's 25th congressional district
California's 25th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that covers part of Los Angeles County and extends out to broad stretches of interior California along the Nevada border. It includes the cities of Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, and the...
prior to the 1952 election.
Hillings was born in 1923 in Hobart Mills, California
Hobart Mills, California
Hobart Mills is a former settlement in Nevada County, California. It is situated at an elevation of above sea level.The town is named after Walter Hobart, Sr. who operated a sawmill in the area at the end of the 20th century....
, where he attended the public schools. He attended the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
until March 1943, when he entered the United States Army Signal Corps. He was stationed in the South Pacific
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
and served as a sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in the Intelligence Service until February 1946.
Returning to USC, Hillings received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1947 and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in 1949. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1949 and commenced the practice of law in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
. He served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
s in 1952, 1956, 1960, and 1964 and supported Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
(twice), Nixon, and Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
, respectively.
Hillings was elected to the Eighty-second
82nd United States Congress
The Eighty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1951 to January 3, 1953, during the last two years...
and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951-January 3, 1959) from a seat vacated by Richard Nixon when he ran successfully for the U.S. Senate in 1950. After four terms in the House of Representatives, Hillings did not seek renomination in 1958, but was an unsuccessful candidate for Attorney General of California, an office vacated by Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, Sr.
Pat Brown
Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown, Sr. was the 32nd Governor of California, serving from 1959 to 1967, and the father of current Governor of California Jerry Brown.-Background:...
in his successful bid for governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
. Hillings was defeated by Democrat Stanley Mosk
Stanley Mosk
Stanley Mosk was an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court for 37 years , and holds the record for the longest-serving justice on that court. Before sitting on the Supreme Court, he served as Attorney General of California and as a trial court judge, among other governmental positions...
, who would later become the longest-serving justice in the history of the California Supreme Court.
After his unsuccessful bid for attorney general, Hillings resumed his law practice in Los Angeles. He served as chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
in 1960-61. In 1970, he ran in a special Republican primary to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Glenard P. Lipscomb
Glenard P. Lipscomb
Glenard Paul Lipscomb was a United States Congressman from the state of California.Born in Jackson County, Michigan, Lipscomb moved to California with his parents in 1920, where the family settled in Los Angeles. He was educated in the Los Angeles public schools, including Belmont High School...
in California's 24th congressional district
California's 24th congressional district
California's 24th congressional district covers most of Ventura and inland Santa Barbara counties.The district is currently represented by Republican Elton Gallegly.-Voting:-List of representatives:-Election results:-1952:...
, but was defeated for the nomination by John H. Rousselot
John H. Rousselot
John Harbin Rousselot was a U.S. Representative from southern California. Born in 1927 in Los Angeles, California, Rousselot attended the public schools of San Marino and South...
, who went on to win the special general election. Hillings directed the presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1979-80.
Hillings resided in Los Angeles until his death in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
in 1994.