Patrick J. Hillings

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 the 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 to the Eighty-second and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951-January 3, 1959) from the 12th District which was formerly held by Rep. Richard Nixon. 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.

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