John T. Doolittle, ‘78, served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009.

John T. Doolittle, ‘78, served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009, representing California’s 4th and 14th Congressional Districts. He was a member of Republican House of Representatives leadership as deputy whip and Secretary of the House Republican Conference, which is the sixth highest leadership position. 

Before being elected to Congress, he served Californians as a senator for the California State Senate from 1980-1991. 

In 1995, he founded the Republican Study Committee, which remains the largest Republican organization in the House of Representatives, with Reps. Dan Burton, Ernest Istook and Sam Johnson. 

While in the House, he served on the following committees: Appropriations (Subcommittees: Energy and Water – vice chairman); Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies; Interior; Legislative Branch), Transportation and Infrastructure, Resources, Agriculture and House Administration. From 1980-1990, he was a member of the State Senate of California. He also served as Senate Republican Caucus Chairman – which is the second highest Republican leadership position – from 1987-1990. 

After Doolittle retired from Congress in 2009, he became a registered federal lobbyist in 2010. In this role, he specializes in representation before Congress and agencies of the federal government. 

Doolittle graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1972 and from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 1978.  


Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary.