Representative Andrew Jackson Hinshaw

Andrew Jackson Hinshaw (August 4, 1923 – January 21, 2016) was an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as a Representative from California in the United States Congress from 1973 to 1977. His two terms in the House of Representatives coincided with a significant period in American political history, and he participated in the legislative process while representing the interests of his California constituents. His later career was overshadowed by a criminal conviction in connection with his earlier service as a county official.

Hinshaw was born on August 4, 1923, in Dexter, Missouri. He moved with his family to California, where he came of age and later built his public career. Like many men of his generation, his early adulthood was shaped by World War II. He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945, during which time he gained experience that would later inform his public service. After the war, he remained in California and began to establish himself in both professional and civic life.

Following his military service, Hinshaw pursued higher education and attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He studied public administration, a field that provided a foundation for his later work in government and public finance. His academic training in administration and governance complemented his growing involvement in local affairs and prepared him for a career in public office.

Hinshaw first gained prominence in local government in Orange County, California. He was elected Orange County assessor, a position responsible for determining property values for tax purposes, and served in that capacity for several years. In this role, he became a well-known figure in county politics and developed a reputation as a Republican officeholder with expertise in property assessment and local taxation. His tenure as assessor provided both the administrative experience and political base that would support his subsequent bid for national office.

In 1972, Hinshaw was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives from California, taking office on January 3, 1973. He served two consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977, during the 93rd and 94th Congresses. His service in Congress occurred during a turbulent era marked by the end of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, and shifting national priorities in domestic and foreign policy. As a member of the House of Representatives, Hinshaw contributed to the legislative process, participated in committee work, and represented the concerns of his Orange County–area constituents within the broader framework of federal policymaking.

Hinshaw’s political career was marred by legal troubles that emerged from his earlier service in county government. In 1977, after leaving Congress, he was convicted of accepting bribes from the Tandy Corporation during his tenure as Orange County assessor. The case centered on allegations that he had received payments in exchange for favorable treatment in matters related to property assessment. This conviction effectively ended his public career and cast a long shadow over his previous accomplishments in local and national office.

Andrew Jackson Hinshaw lived out his later years in California, largely removed from public life following his conviction. He died on January 21, 2016, closing a life that had encompassed military service in World War II, local and national political office, and a notable fall from public grace. His career remains a complex chapter in the political history of Orange County and the state of California.