Representative Edward James Patten

Edward James Patten (August 22, 1905 – September 17, 1994) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who represented the now-redistricted New Jersey 15th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for eighteen years, from January 3, 1963, to January 3, 1981. Over nine consecutive terms in Congress, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his New Jersey constituents.

Patten was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where he attended the public schools and graduated from Perth Amboy High School. He pursued teacher training at Newark Normal School, from which he graduated in 1927. That same year he completed his legal studies at Rutgers Law School and was admitted to the bar, beginning the practice of law in his hometown of Perth Amboy. In 1928 he furthered his academic credentials by graduating from Rutgers University, establishing a foundation in both education and law that would shape his public career.

Before entering elective office, Patten worked as a public school teacher in the Elizabeth, New Jersey, school district, serving there until 1934. He then successfully ran for mayor of Perth Amboy, assuming office that year and serving as mayor until 1940. In 1935, one year into his mayoral term, he became director and counsel of the Woodbridge National Bank, a position he would hold for twenty-seven years, combining legal, financial, and executive responsibilities. After his tenure as mayor, he continued his public service at the county level, serving as county clerk for Middlesex County for fourteen years, until 1954.

In 1954 Patten entered statewide office when he was appointed New Jersey secretary of state, a post he held until 1962. That year, following the creation of a new 15th congressional district as a result of the 1960 census, he sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He first secured the Democratic nomination by defeating George Otlowski in the primary, and then won the general election by defeating Republican Bernard F. Rodgers by nearly 20,000 votes. His victory sent him to Washington as a member of the 88th Congress, beginning his long tenure in the House of Representatives.

During his congressional service from 1963 to 1981, Patten was repeatedly returned to office by the voters of his district. He was re-elected in 1964 in a rematch with Bernard F. Rodgers, winning 63.2 percent of the vote. He subsequently defeated C. John Stroumtsos in 1966, George W. Luke in 1968, Peter P. Garibaldi in 1970, Fuller H. Brooks in 1972, and E. J. Hammesfahr in 1974. In 1976 he prevailed over Republican Charles W. Wiley and Independent candidate Dennis Adams Sr., and in 1978 he again faced Wiley, winning that race by a relatively narrow margin of 2,836 votes. Over the course of his House career, Patten sponsored twenty-nine bills, addressing a range of issues including Social Security, human rights, and Medicare, reflecting his engagement with major domestic policy concerns of the era.

Patten’s later congressional years coincided with the Koreagate scandal of the 1970s, in which he was accused in 1978 of facilitating an illegal campaign contribution from a Korean businessman. The matter was formally reviewed by the House Ethics Committee, which in October 1978 cleared him of all charges by an 8–0 vote. Unlike some colleagues who faced criminal penalties, such as California Representative Richard T. Hanna, who was sentenced to six to thirty months in jail and served one year in federal prison, Patten emerged from the investigation without sanction. In the 1978 Democratic primary, he secured renomination with 59 percent of the vote against political newcomer George Spadoro, and went on to defeat Charles Wiley in the general election. He chose not to be a candidate for renomination in the 1980 election for the 15th congressional district, bringing his eighteen-year House career to a close at the end of the 96th Congress in January 1981.

After leaving Congress, Patten remained active in civic and fraternal life. He continued his involvement in a variety of organizations, including the NAACP, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Kiwanis International, the Knights of Columbus, and Moose International. A lifelong resident of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, he maintained close ties to the community where he had been born, educated, and first entered public service. Edward James Patten died in Perth Amboy on September 17, 1994, at the age of 89.