A Democrat, he was most notable for his service as the last elected treasurer of Rensselaer County from 1970 to 1974 and a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1979.

A native of Troy, New York, Pattison graduated from Cornell University in 1953 and served in the United States Army for two years.

While practicing law, Pattison was involved in numerous civic and charitable causes, and frequently represented indigent and poor clients pro bono.

As one of the large freshman class of Democrats elected after the Watergate scandal, Pattison aided in reforming House rules to make seniority a less important factor in committee assignments and chairmanships.

After losing reelection in 1978, Pattison resumed practicing law, was a commentator on current events for television, radio, and newspapers, and also taught politics and government at several universities.

[5] Pattison served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956, and attained the rank of First Lieutenant[1] as a member of the Field Artillery Branch.

[8] He was also an officer, board member, or advisory board member of United Community Services,[8] The Salvation Army,[8] The Workshop, Inc. employment training service,[4] West Sand Lake Volunteer Fire Company,[4] West Sand Lake Parent-Teacher Association,[4] Troy Kiwanis Club,[4] Troy YMCA,[4] Cornell University Alumni Association,[4] Cornell Law School Alumni Association,[4] Friends of Hoosac School,[4] Rensselaer County Tuberculosis and Public Health Association,[18] Commission on Economic Opportunity for the Rensselaer County Area,[19] Family and Children's Services of Troy,[20] March of Dimes Southern Adirondack Chapter,[21] Home Aide Service of Eastern New York,[22] Unity House of Troy, and Rensselaer Association for Retarded Children.

[8] In the November general election, he defeated Carleton King, a win which was attributed in large part to the Democratic wave that followed the involvement of President Richard Nixon, a Republican in the Watergate scandal.

[24] Pattison's liberalism, coupled with issues including his admission of having previously used marijuana,[8] enabled conservative Republican Gerald B. H. Solomon's victory in the general election.

[8] In 1980, Pattison was the Democratic nominee for the New York State Senate in the 41st district, and lost to incumbent Republican Joseph Bruno.

[8] Beginning in 1979, he served as chairman of the Congressional Institute on the Future, an organization that worked on long-range solutions to emerging policy challenges.

[30] In 1990, Pattison received the New York State Bar Association's Root-Stimson Award in recognition of his many years of community service.