Paul L. Patterson
Encyclopedia
Paul Linton Patterson was an American Republican
politician. He served as President of the Oregon State Senate
(1951–1952) and the 26th Governor of Oregon
(1952–1956).
. His father was George A. Patterson, at the time attending college in Ohio. Paul's mother was Ada Linton Patterson. After completing college, George became a Congregationalist
minister, and moved the family to Portland, Oregon
.
In his first job, young Paul would work as a newsboy on the streets of Portland, later working up to his own paper route. He completed his public education, a graduate of Portland's Washington High School
(now closed). Patterson served briefly in the U.S. Army during the First World War
.
After the war, Patterson enrolled in the University of Oregon
, first earning his B.A. in business administration (1923), then a Juris Doctor
(1926). While in college, he met Georgia Searle Benson, the daughter of a prominent Portland family. They would marry on May 16, 1927, and later would have three children.
After graduating, Patterson passed the State Bar and set up a law firm in Hillsboro, Oregon
. He would remain involved in this private practice until 1952.
from 1926 until 1933. After serving in this capacity, he went on to serve (at various times) as the city attorney for Hillsboro, Beaverton
, Gaston
, Sherwood
, and Tualatin
. Such service gained him prominence throughout Washington County's political establishment.
He chaired the Washington County Republican Party up to 1944. This is when he noticed an open local seat in the Oregon State Senate
which had no candidates for office. He agreed to run for it himself. He would hold his senate seat until 1952, the last year as President of the Senate
.
resigned in 1952 to accept President Eisenhower
's appointing him to Secretary of the Interior. At this time, Patterson, as President of the Senate, was next in line for the Governorship. He was sworn in as Oregon's 26th governor on December 27, 1952.
Governor Patterson assumed office with a low political profile statewide, but proved to be popular. He easily won the Republican gubernatorial nomination and election in his own right in the Oregon gubernatorial election, 1954
.
As with his other Republican contemporaries, he was fiscally conservative, but accepted federal money for unemployment aid, transportation projects, and water management programs. He strongly supported the state's transportation infrastructure, and encouraged the development of the state freeway system. No increase in funding or expansion of social programs were proposed under his leadership.
An enduring legacy of Governor Paul Patterson is his opposition to a state sales tax without a popular vote. Any move to legislatively implement a sales tax has been met with major opposition since his administration.
Inside his own party, he was looked upon favorably by both the national and local interests. Patterson had the backing of Portland's influential Arlington Club, some of whose most powerful members assisted his election campaigns.
Three days later, after his first campaign speech, Patterson collapsed during a meeting with campaign advisors at the Portland Arlington Club. He was reported as suddenly slumping over in his chair. When examined, it was determined that he had suffered a coronary occlusion
.
The deceased governor was provided a state funeral. Patterson’s ashes were interned at River View Cemetery
in Portland. His successor, President of the Senate Elmo Smith
, was sworn in as governor.
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...
politician. He served as President of the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
(1951–1952) and the 26th Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
(1952–1956).
Early life
Patterson was born July 18, 1900 in Kent, OhioKent, Ohio
Kent is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the largest city in Portage County. It is located along the Cuyahoga River in Northeastern Ohio on the western edge of the county. The population was 27,906 at the 2000 United States Census and 28,904 in the 2010 Census...
. His father was George A. Patterson, at the time attending college in Ohio. Paul's mother was Ada Linton Patterson. After completing college, George became a Congregationalist
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
minister, and moved the family to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
In his first job, young Paul would work as a newsboy on the streets of Portland, later working up to his own paper route. He completed his public education, a graduate of Portland's Washington High School
Washington High School (Portland, Oregon)
Washington High School was a high school in Portland, Oregon, United States, described in 1950 as "Portland's finest high school." It was part of the Portland school district. Opened in September 1906, the school was originally named the East Side High School, but changed its name to Washington in...
(now closed). Patterson served briefly in the U.S. Army during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
After the war, Patterson enrolled in the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, first earning his B.A. in business administration (1923), then 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...
(1926). While in college, he met Georgia Searle Benson, the daughter of a prominent Portland family. They would marry on May 16, 1927, and later would have three children.
After graduating, Patterson passed the State Bar and set up a law firm in Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
. He would remain involved in this private practice until 1952.
Early political career
The law firm would launch Patterson's political career, starting with a position as the Deputy District Attorney of Washington CountyWashington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
from 1926 until 1933. After serving in this capacity, he went on to serve (at various times) as the city attorney for Hillsboro, Beaverton
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
, Gaston
Gaston, Oregon
Gaston is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 600 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate is 630 residents.-Early history:...
, Sherwood
Sherwood, Oregon
Sherwood is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Located in the southeast corner of the county, it is a residential community in the Tualatin Valley southwest of Portland. The population was 11,791 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate is 16,115 residents...
, and Tualatin
Tualatin, Oregon
Tualatin is a city located primarily in Washington County in the U.S. state of Oregon. A small portion of the city is also located in neighboring Clackamas County. It is a southwestern suburb in the Portland Metropolitan Area that is located south of Tigard...
. Such service gained him prominence throughout Washington County's political establishment.
He chaired the Washington County Republican Party up to 1944. This is when he noticed an open local seat in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
which had no candidates for office. He agreed to run for it himself. He would hold his senate seat until 1952, the last year as President of the Senate
President of the Senate
The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
.
Governorship
Governor Douglas McKayDouglas McKay
James Douglas McKay was an American businessman and politician from Oregon. A native of the state, he served in World War I before he became a successful businessman, mainly as a car dealership owner in the capital city of Salem. A Republican, he served as a city councilor and mayor of Salem...
resigned in 1952 to accept President 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...
's appointing him to Secretary of the Interior. At this time, Patterson, as President of the Senate, was next in line for the Governorship. He was sworn in as Oregon's 26th governor on December 27, 1952.
Governor Patterson assumed office with a low political profile statewide, but proved to be popular. He easily won the Republican gubernatorial nomination and election in his own right in the Oregon gubernatorial election, 1954
Oregon gubernatorial election, 1954
The 1954 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1954. Republican incumbent Paul L. Patterson defeated Democratic nominee Joseph K. Carson to win the election....
.
As with his other Republican contemporaries, he was fiscally conservative, but accepted federal money for unemployment aid, transportation projects, and water management programs. He strongly supported the state's transportation infrastructure, and encouraged the development of the state freeway system. No increase in funding or expansion of social programs were proposed under his leadership.
An enduring legacy of Governor Paul Patterson is his opposition to a state sales tax without a popular vote. Any move to legislatively implement a sales tax has been met with major opposition since his administration.
Inside his own party, he was looked upon favorably by both the national and local interests. Patterson had the backing of Portland's influential Arlington Club, some of whose most powerful members assisted his election campaigns.
Bid for the Senate and unexpected death
Republicans hoped to pick up Senator Wayne Morse's seat in the 1956 election, and considered the popular governor as the party's best chance. Patterson announced his campaign January 28, 1956 at a time when his popularity was highest.Three days later, after his first campaign speech, Patterson collapsed during a meeting with campaign advisors at the Portland Arlington Club. He was reported as suddenly slumping over in his chair. When examined, it was determined that he had suffered a coronary occlusion
Coronary occlusion
A coronary occlusion is the partial or complete obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery. This condition may cause a heart attack.In some patients coronary occlusion causes only mild pain, tightness or vague discomfort which may be ignored: the myocardium is however damaged....
.
The deceased governor was provided a state funeral. Patterson’s ashes were interned at River View Cemetery
River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
River View Cemetery in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, United States, is a non-profit cemetery founded in 1882. It is the final resting place of many prominent and notable citizens of Oregon, including many governors and United States Senators...
in Portland. His successor, President of the Senate Elmo Smith
Elmo Smith
Elmo Everett Smith was an American politician, a Republican, and the 27th Governor of the state of Oregon, U.S., from 1956 to 1957.-Early life:...
, was sworn in as governor.
Sources
- Oregon State Library
- Klooster, Karl. Round the Roses II: More Past Portland Perspectives, pg. 136, 1992 ISBN 0-9619847-1-6
External links
- Oregon State Archives: Patterson Administration-Photo, bio, records, and some public speeches of Governor Paul L. Patterson.