I don´t think Patriarca ever sat on the National Commission.
Some wiretaps found on the Mary Ferrell Foundation site shows that Patriarca (when talking about the Commission) clearly got some things wrong. (Suggesting he was not an insider.)
However, some historians claim that there used to be a regional council that dealt with Mafia issues throughout the Massachusetts and Providence area and that its members (local mafiosi) regulary met in Boston in order to resolve local matters.
This could explain the confusion whether or not Patriarca sat on the National Commission.
To my knowledge, the Patriarca family was never on the Commission. Here's a basic time line of the Commission by Jerry Capeci -
In 1931, after the murders of Masseria and Maranzano, the original Commission is established with 7 members: the five New York families, Chicago, and Buffalo. Most eastern families without a seat were represented by the Genovese family. Most western families were represented by Chicago. The Commission would have national influence for about the next 50 years.
In 1961 2 additional members were added to the Commission - the Detroit and Philadelphia families.
In the 1960's the Chicago Outfit starts to miss more Commission meetings, which eventually resulted in a two-headed Commission with Chicago resolving family disputes west of them. Remaining common interests between New York and Chicago dealt with four major international unions and open territories.
In 1974 the Buffalo family loses it's seat on the Commission with the death of boss Stefano Magaddino.
In 1977 the Detroit family loses it's Commission seat when boss Joseph Zerilli dies.
In 1980 Philadelphia loses it's Commission seat when boss Angelo Bruno is killed.
In the early 1980's the Bonanno family temporarily loses it's Commission seat due to a number of reasons including the family not being unified, it's excessive involvement in narcotics, and the infiltration of FBI agent Joseph Pistone from 1976 to 1982.
In the 1980's the New York and Chicago lost more contact due to prosecutions that brought new leaders that were unacquinted with each other, as well as the weakening of New York and Chicago control of the four international union through prosecutions and internal reform. The Commission essentially becomes a New York enterprise.
In 1985, the leaders of the five New York families are indicted in the "Commission case."
In 1988, leaders of the Genovese, Gambino, and Lucchese families meet at a Commission meeting. The only face to face meeting between Vincent Gigante and John Gotti.
From 1991-1992 rival factions fight in the Colombo War going to war, resulting in the temporary loss of a seat on the Commission.
In 2000, the last known Commission meeting is held with leaders of all five NY families.
