Patrick J. Hillings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Patrick Jerome Hillings (February 19, 1923 - July 20, 1994) 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. The district was renumbered as California's 25th congressional district prior to the 1952 election.

Hillings was born in Hobart Mills, California, where he attended public schools. He attended the University of Southern California until March 1943. He then entered teh United States Army Signal Corps and served as a sergeant in the Intelligence Service until February 1946. He was stationed in the South Pacific. Hillings returned to USC and received a bachelor of arts degree in 1947 and a Juris Doctor in 1949. He was admitted to the bar in 1949 and commenced the practice of law in Arcadia. He served as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1952, 1956, 1960, and 1964 and supported Dwight Eisenhower, Nixon, and Barry M. Goldwater, respectively.

Hillings was elected as a to the Eighty-second and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951-January 3, 1959). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1958, but was an unsuccessful candidate for attorney general of California, an office vacated by Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, Sr., who was instead elected governor. Hillings resumed his law practice in Los Angeles. He served as chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Los Angeles County from 1960-1961. He directed the presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan in Florida from 1979-1980.

Hillings resided in Los Angeles until his death in Palm Desert.

[edit] References

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Richard M. Nixon
Member from California's 12th congressional district
1951-1953
Recreated
Title next held by
Allan O. Hunter
New district
Member from California's 25th congressional district
1953-1959
Succeeded by
George A. Kasem