Pat Robertson | |
|---|---|
 Robertson in 2006 | |
| Born | Marion Gordon Robertson (1930-03-22)March 22, 1930 Lexington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | June 8, 2023(2023-06-08) (aged 93) Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1961–2023 |
| Television | The 700 Club (1966–2021) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, includingGordon |
| Father | Absalom Willis Robertson |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Battles / wars | Korean War |
| Website | patrobertson |
Marion Gordon "Pat"Robertson (March 22, 1930 – June 8, 2023) was an Americanmedia mogul,televangelist, political commentator, presidential candidate, andcharismatic minister. Robertson advocated aconservative Christian ideology and was known for his involvement inRepublican Party politics. He was associated with theCharismatic movement within Protestantevangelicalism. He served as head ofRegent University and of theChristian Broadcasting Network (CBN).
Robertson's career spanned over five decades, and was the founder of several organizations, including CBN, Regent University,Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation, theInternational Family Entertainment Inc. (ABC Family Channel/Freeform), theAmerican Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), the Founders Inn and Conference Center, and theChristian Coalition.[1][2] Robertson was also a best-selling author and the host ofThe 700 Club, a Christian News and TV program broadcast live weekdays on Freeform (formerly ABC Family) from CBN studios, as well as on channels throughout the United States, and on CBN networkaffiliates worldwide.[1] Robertson retired fromThe 700 Club in October 2021.[3]
The son of U.S. SenatorA. Willis Robertson, Robertson was a Southern Baptist and was active as an ordained minister with that denomination for many years, but held to acharismatic theology not traditionally common among Southern Baptists.[4][5] He unsuccessfully campaigned to become the Republican nominee in the1988 presidential election.[6] As a result of his seeking political office, he never again served in an official role for any church.
Robertson remained acontroversial figure, especially known for evangelicalreligiocentrism. While he became a recognized and influential public voice for conservative Christianity in the U.S. and around the world, his opposition to various progressive causes, includingLGBTQ rights,feminism, and the right toabortion, was frequently criticized.[7]
Marion Gordon Robertson was born on March 22, 1930,[1] inLexington, Virginia, into a prominent political family, the younger of two sons. His parents wereAbsalom Willis Robertson (1887–1971), aconservative DemocraticSenator, and Gladys Churchill (née Willis; 1897–1968), a housewife and a musician. At a young age, Robertson was nicknamed 'Pat' by his six-year-old brother, Willis Robertson Jr., who enjoyed patting him on the cheeks when he was a baby while saying "pat, pat, pat". Later, Robertson thought about which first name he would like people to use. He considered "Marion" to be effeminate, and "M. Gordon" to be affected, so he opted for his childhood nickname "Pat".[7]
When he was eleven, Robertson was enrolled in the preparatoryMcDonogh School outsideBaltimore,Maryland. From 1940 until 1946, he attendedThe McCallie School inChattanooga, Tennessee, where he graduated with honors.[8][9] He gained admission toWashington and Lee University, where he earned a B.A. in History, graduatingmagna cum laude. He was also a member ofPhi Beta Kappa, the nation's most prestigious academic honor society.[1] He joinedSigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Robertson said, "Although I worked hard at my studies, my real major centered around lovely young ladies who attended the nearby girls schools."[10]
In 1948, thedraft was reinstated and Robertson was given the option of joining theU.S. Marine Corps or being drafted into theU.S. Army; he opted for the former.[11] Robertson described his military service as follows: "We did long, grueling marches to toughen the men, plus refresher training in firearms and bayonet combat." In the same year, he transferred toKorea, "I ended up at the headquarters command of theFirst Marine Division," says Robertson. "The Division was in combat in the hot and dusty, then bitterly cold portion ofNorth Korea just above the 38th Parallel later identified as the 'Punchbowl' and 'Heartbreak Ridge'." For Robertson's service in theKorean War, he was awarded threeBattle Stars.[12]
In 1986, formerRepublican CongressmanPaul "Pete" McCloskey Jr., who served with Robertson in Camp Pendleton, wrote a public letter challenging Robertson's record in the military. Robertson filed alibel suit against McCloskey but he dropped the case in 1988 in order to devote "his full time and energies toward the successful attainment of the Republican nomination for the president of the United States."[13][14][15]
Robertson was promoted toFirst Lieutenant in 1952 upon his return to the United States. He then went on to receive a law degree fromYale Law School in 1955, near the top of his class. However, he failed his first and only attempt at theNew York bar exam.[16] Shortly thereafter he underwent a religious conversion and decided against pursuing a career in business. Instead, Robertson attendedThe Biblical Seminary in New York, where he received aMaster of Divinity degree in 1959. He became a born again Christian while having dinner at a restaurant inPhiladelphia with author and World War II veteran,Cornelius Vanderbreggen. After his conversion, Robertson left the corporate world and went into ministry.[17]
In 1956, Robertson met Dutch missionary Cornelius Vanderbreggen, who impressed Robertson both with his lifestyle and his message. Vanderbreggen quotedProverbs (3:5, 6), "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths", which Robertson considered being the "guiding principle" of his life. In 1961, he was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister byFreemason Street Baptist Church inNorfolk, Virginia.[18]
In 1960, Robertson established the Christian Broadcasting Network inVirginia Beach, Virginia, by buying the license of a defunctUHF station in nearbyPortsmouth. The station, with the call signWYAH-TV, first broadcast on October 1, 1961. The network became known for producing the long-running TV seriesThe 700 Club, starting in 1966, which Robertson served as a long time co-host. On April 29, 1977, CBN launched a religiouscable network, the CBN Satellite Service, which eventually became The Family Channel. It was the firstsatellite television channel in America to connect to cable systems across the country. The venture became extremely lucrative, so Robertson spun off The Family Channel as a commercial entity that was sold toNews Corporation for $1.9 billion in 1997.
In 1994, he endorsed the document "Evangelicals and Catholics Together".[19] Robertson announced his retirement at the age of 91 fromThe 700 Club in October 2021, on the sixtieth anniversary of the first telecast on October 1, 1961, of what eventually became CBN.[3]
Robertson founded CBN University, a private Christian university, in 1977 on CBN's Virginia Beach campus. Since its founding, the university has established eight academic schools and offersassociate,bachelor's,master's, anddoctoral degrees in over 150 areas of study. It was renamed Regent University in 1990. According to the school's catalog, "a regent is one who represents Christ, our Sovereign, in whatever sphere of life he or she may be called to serve Him."[20]
With more than 11,000 current students, Regent University has ranked the #1 Best Online Bachelor's Program in Virginia for ten years in a row byU.S. News & World Report 2022, as well as 2023 Best Graduate Schools-Law, Best Graduate Schools – Social Sciences and Humanities Doctoral Programs – Psychology, 2023 Best Graduate Schools – Public Affairs, and 2023 Best Education Schools byU.S. News & World Report.[21] Robertson served as itschancellor and CEO.[20]
Robertson was also founder and president of theAmerican Center for Law & Justice, a public interest law firm headquartered inWashington, D.C., associated withRegent University School of Law inVirginia Beach, Virginia, which defends constitutional freedoms andconservative Christian ideals. Critics have characterized Robertson as an advocate ofdominionism.[22]
Robertson's Operation Blessing organization sent medical teams to developing countries to help people who had no access to medical care. In 1994, in the aftermath of theRwandan genocide, Robertson solicited donations to provide medical supplies to refugees in neighboringZaire (present-day Congo), where Robertson also had exploratory diamond mining operations.[23] According to a 1999 article inThe Virginian-Pilot, two Operation Blessing pilots who were interviewed alleged that the organization's planes were used to haul diamond-mining equipment to Robertson's mines in Zaire. Robertson denied the pilots' accounts.[24][25]
In its 2021 ranking of "100 Largest Charities",Forbes ranked Operation Blessing/CBN at #44, with a fundraising efficiency of 93% (percentage of donations left after fundraising expenses) and charitable commitment of 87% (percentage of expenses paid toward the stated mission compared to other costs).[26]
.jpg)
Robertson was a past president of theCouncil for National Policy. In 1982, he served on the Victims of Crime Task Force for U.S. PresidentRonald Reagan. In Virginia, he served on the Board of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and on the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors.[27] After his unsuccessful presidential campaign, Robertson started theChristian Coalition, a 1.7-million-memberChristian right organization that campaigned mostly for conservative candidates.[7]Billy McCormack, a Southern Baptist pastor inShreveport,Louisiana, served as one of the four directors of the coalition as well as its vice president.[28] The coalition was sued by theFederal Election Commission "for coordinating its activities with Republican candidates for office in 1990, 1992 and 1994 and failing to report its expenditures,"[29] yet the complaint was dismissed by a federal judge. In March 1986, he toldIsraeli Foreign Affairs that South Africa was a major contributor to theReagan administration's efforts to help the anti-Sandinista forces.[30]
In 1994, the Coalition was fined for "improperly [aiding] then RepresentativeNewt Gingrich (R-GA) andOliver North, who was then the Republican Senate nominee in Virginia."[31]
Robertson was a governing member of theCouncil for National Policy (CNP) and served on its Board of Governors in 1982, was the President of its Executive Committee from 1985 to 1986, and a member in 1984, 1988, and 1998.[32]
On November 7, 2007, Robertson announced that he was endorsingRudy Giuliani to be the Republican nominee in the2008 Presidential election.[33] Some social conservatives criticized Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani, a pro-choice candidate who supportedgay rights.[34]
While usually associated with thepolitical right, Robertson endorsed environmental causes. He appeared in a commercial withAl Sharpton, joking about this, and urging people to join theWe Can Solve It campaign againstglobal warming.[35]
In January 2009, on a broadcast ofThe 700 Club, Robertson stated that he was "adamantly opposed" to the division ofJerusalem between Israel and thePalestinians. He also stated thatArmageddon was "not going to be fought atMegiddo" but would be the "battle of Jerusalem," when "the forces of all nations come together and try to take Jerusalem away from the Jews. Jews are not going to give up Jerusalem – they shouldn't – and the rest of the world is going to insist they give it up." Robertson added that Jerusalem is a "spiritual symbol that must not be given away" because "Jesus Christ theMessiah will come down to the part of Jerusalem that theArabs want," and this would be "not good."[36]
Robertson repeatedly called for thelegalization of cannabis, saying that it should be treated in a manner analogous to the regulation ofalcoholic beverages andtobacco.[37] Robertson stated that "I just think it's shocking how many of these young people wind up in prison and they get turned into hard-core criminals because they had a possession of a very small amount of controlled substance. The whole thing is crazy."[38] In 2014, he turned against the legalization of cannabis, citing a need to protect children, whom he claimed were using cannabis at a higher rate in Colorado following legalization there.[39]
In September 1986, Robertson announced his intention to seek theRepublican nomination forPresident of the United States. Robertson said he would pursue the nomination only if three million people signed up to volunteer for his campaign by September 1987. Three million responded, and by the time Robertson announced he would be running in September 1987, he also had raised millions of dollars for his campaign fund. He surrendered his ministerial credentials and turned leadership of CBN over to his son, Tim.[40] In 1987, he left theSouthern Baptist Convention to run.[41][42]
Robertson ran on a standardconservative platform, and as a candidate he embraced the same policies as Ronald Reagan: lower taxes, a balanced budget, and a strong defense.[43]
Robertson's campaign achieved a strong second-place finish in theIowa caucuses, ahead of Bush.[44][45] He did poorly in the subsequentNew Hampshire primary, however, and was unable to be competitive once the multiple-state primaries began. Robertson ended his campaign before the primaries were finished. His best finish was inWashington, winning the majority of caucus delegates.[46][47]
Robertson was the founder and chairman ofThe Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Inc., and founder ofInternational Family Entertainment Inc.,Regent University,Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation,American Center for Law and Justice, The Flying Hospital, Inc., and several other organizations and broadcast entities. Robertson was the founder and co-chairman ofInternational Family Entertainment Inc. (IFE).[48]
Formed in 1990, IFE produced and distributed family entertainment and information programming worldwide. IFE's principal business was The Family Channel, a satellite delivered cable-television network with 63 million U.S. subscribers.[49] IFE, a publicly held company listed on theNew York Stock Exchange, was sold in 1997 toFox Kids Worldwide, Inc. for $1.9 billion, whereupon it was renamedFox Family Channel.Disney acquired FFC in 2001 and its name was changed again, to ABC Family. The network was renamed toFreeform on January 12, 2016, though Robertson's sale of the channel continues to require Freeform to carry four hours of CBN/700 Club programming per weekday, along with CBN's yearlytelethon.[49]
Robertson was a global businessman with media holdings in Asia, the United Kingdom, and Africa. He struck a deal withPittsburgh, Pennsylvania-basedGeneral Nutrition Center to produce and market a weight-loss shake he created and promoted onThe 700 Club.[50]
In 1999, Robertson entered into a joint venture with theBank of Scotland to provide financial services in the United States. However, the venture fell through as it was met with criticism from civil rights groups in the UK, owing to Robertson's controversial views on homosexuality. The Bank was forced to cancel the deal when Robertson described Scotland as a "dark land overrun by homosexuals".[51][52]
While some have estimated his wealth to have been between $200 million and $1 billion, Robertson claimed that these estimates were not based on any facts and were incorrect.[53]
A June 2, 1999, article inThe Virginian-Pilot[54] alleged that Robertson had business dealings withLiberian presidentCharles Taylor, with whom Robertson, according to the article, negotiated a multimillion-dollar contract for gold mining operations in Liberia. Robertson denied any business dealings with Taylor, and he also denied ever speaking to PresidentGeorge W. Bush about Taylor's alleged activities.[55] On February 4, 2010, at hiswar crimes trial inthe Hague, Taylor testified that Robertson was his main political ally in the U.S., while Robertson has denied ever meeting or speaking to Charles Taylor.[56][57]
Beginning in the latter part of the 1990s, Robertson racedthoroughbred horses under thenom de course Tega Farm.[58] His gelding named Tappat won the 1999Walter Haight Handicap atLaurel Park and the 2000Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap atPenn National Race Course.[59] Following this success, Robertson paid $520,000 for a colt he named Mr. Pat. Trained byJohn Kimmel, Mr. Pat was not a successful runner.[60] He was nominated for, but did not run in, the 2000Kentucky Derby.[61][62]
As a commentator and minister, Robertson's statements frequently generated controversy.[63]
Robertson's service as a minister included the belief in thehealing power of God.[64] He cautioned believers that someProtestant denominations may harbor the spirit of theAntichrist;[65] denouncedHinduism as "demonic"[66] andIslam as "Satanic".[67]
Robertson denounced left-wing views offeminism,[68] activism regarding homosexuality,[69]abortion,[70] and liberal college professors.[71] Critics claim Robertson had business dealings in Africa with former president of Liberia and convicted war criminalCharles Taylor,[72] and formerZaire presidentMobutu Sese Seko,[55] both of whom had been globally denounced for claims of human rights violations. Robertson was criticized worldwide for his call forHugo Chávez's assassination,[55] and for his remarks concerningAriel Sharon's ill health as an act of God.[73]
During the week ofSeptember 11, 2001, Robertson interviewedJerry Falwell, who expressed his own opinion that "theACLU has to take a lot of blame for this" in addition to "thepagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays, and thelesbians [who have] helped [the terror attacks of September 11th] happen." Robertson replied, "I totally concur".[74] Both evangelists were seriously criticized by PresidentGeorge W. Bush for their comments,[75] for which Falwell later issued an apology.[76]
Less than two weeks afterHurricane Katrina killed 1,836 people, Robertson implied on the September 12, 2005, broadcast ofThe 700 Club that the storm was God's punishment in response to America's abortion policy. He suggested that the September 11 attacks and the disaster in New Orleans "could [...] be connected in some way".[77]
In 2006, Robertson claimed to haveleg pressed 2,000 lbs three years earlier at the age of 73. Strength training experts reacted with skepticism. CBN attributed Robertson's energy and vitality to his "age-defying protein shake."[78][79][80][81]
In 2009, Robertson said thatIslam is "a violent political system bent on the overthrow of the governments of the world and world domination". He went on to elaborate that "you're dealing with not a religion, you're dealing with a political system, and I think we should treat it as such, and treat its adherents as such as we would members of thecommunist party, members of somefascist group".[82]
Robertson's response to the2010 Haiti earthquake also sparked worldwide condemnation.[83][84] Robertson claimed thatHaiti's founders had sworn a "pact tothe Devil" in order to liberate themselves from theFrenchslave owners and indirectly attributed the earthquake to the consequences of the Haitian people being "cursed" for doing so.[85][86] CBN later issued a statement saying that Robertson's comments "were based on the widely-discussed1791 slave rebellion led byDutty Boukman atBois Caïman, where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French".[87][88] Various figures inmainline andevangelical[89]Christianity have on occasion disavowed some of Robertson's remarks.[83][90]
In March 2015, Robertson comparedBuddhism to a disease onThe 700 Club.[91] TheAmerican Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a conservative Christian watchdog group Robertson founded to promote Christian prayer in public schools, called for a multi-pronged attack onmindfulness programs because "they appear to be similar to Buddhist religious practices. Proponents of secular mindfulness say mindfulness is not a Buddhist practice; it is a contemplative practice used in religious traditions around the world by many different names."[92]
In 1954, Robertson marriedAdelia "Dede" Elmer,[93] a fashion model and beauty queen in the Miss Ohio State contest, who was studying for her masters in nursing atYale University. She had also been a nursing student atOhio State University inColumbus, Ohio.[93] They remained married until her death in 2022, and had four children, among themGordon P. Robertson.[94]
On August 11, 2017, Robertson was hospitalized after sustaining minor injuries in a fall from a horseback riding incident.[95][96]
On February 2, 2018, Robertson suffered anembolic stroke at his home in Virginia Beach. A member of his family noticed his symptoms and alerted emergency medical personnel. He was then taken to the nearest stroke center where he was administered the clot-busting drugtPA. Robertson was responsive, awake, and moving all of his limbs about eighty minutes after his stroke began. He was discharged two days later and recovered at home. Following this incident, Robertson and his family thanked theparamedics and medical staff for their "extraordinary care and rapid response." They also urged people to learn about stroke, its symptoms and treatments.[97] Robertson resumed his hosting duties onThe 700 Club on February 12, 2018.[98]
In June 2019, Robertson was absent fromThe 700 Club for several days after he broke three ribs in a fall. Upon his return, Robertson described the experience as very painful but said "Us old guys are tough, and we try to stay in there and keep on going." He then thanked viewers for their prayers.[99]
On June 8, 2023, Robertson died at his home inVirginia Beach, Virginia, at the age of 93.[100][101]
Robertson's bookThe New World Order (1991) became aNew York Times best seller. A review by Ephraim Radner, anEpiscopalian professor of theology, stated:
In his published writings, especially his 1991 bookThe New World Order, Pat Robertson has propagated theories about a worldwideJewish conspiracy. Michael Land raised the issue in February inThe New York Times Book Review, and in April Jacob Heilbrun, writing inThe New York Review of Books, cited chapter and verse of Robertson's borrowings from well-knownanti-Semitic works.[102]
In October 2003, Robertson was interviewed by author Joel Mowbray about his bookDangerous Diplomacy, a book critical of theUnited States Department of State. Robertson said that Americans could change American diplomacy by ridding America of a large part of the State Department.[103]
Conservatism portal
Christianity portal
Evangelical Christianity portal
Television portalUnited States portal
| Issues and ideas | |
|---|---|
| Advocates |
|
| Groups |
|
| Political parties | |
| Related | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
