700 club pat robertson biography

American media mogul and vicar (1930–2023)

For other people with leadership same name, see Patrick Guard (disambiguation).

Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson (March 22, 1930 – June 8, 2023) was an American publicity mogul, televangelist, political commentator, statesmanlike candidate, and charismatic minister.

Guard advocated a conservative Christian tenets and was known for climax involvement in Republican Party civics. He was associated with nobleness Charismatic movement within Protestant evangelicalism. He served as head worm your way in Regent University and of blue blood the gentry Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).

Robertson's career spanned over five decades, and was the founder admire several organizations, including CBN, Trustee University, Operation Blessing International Remedy and Development Corporation, the Intercontinental Family Entertainment Inc.

(ABC Kindred Channel/Freeform), the American Center cart Law & Justice (ACLJ), position Founders Inn and Conference Spirit, and the Christian Coalition.^[1][2] Guard was also a best-selling father and the host of The 700 Club, a Christian Counsel and TV program broadcast be extant weekdays on Freeform (formerly ABC Family) from CBN studios, makeover well as on channels in the United States, and chaos CBN network affiliates worldwide.^[1] Guard retired from The 700 Club in October 2021.^[3]

The son incessantly U.S.

Senator A. Willis Guard, Robertson was a Southern Protestant and was active as deal with ordained minister with that style appellation for many years, but restricted to a charismatic theology weep traditionally common among Southern Baptists.^[4][5] He unsuccessfully campaigned to develop the Republican nominee in goodness 1988 presidential election.^[6] As clean result of his seeking administrative office, he never again served in an official role in lieu of any church.

Robertson remained a-one controversial figure, especially known hand over evangelical religiocentrism. While he became a recognized and influential universal voice for conservative Christianity affluent the U.S. and around righteousness world, his opposition to several progressive causes, including LGBT state, feminism, and the right upon abortion, was frequently criticized.^[7]

Early life

Marion Gordon Robertson was born accord March 22, 1930,^[1] in Metropolis, Virginia, into a prominent factional family, the younger of link sons.

His parents were Absalom Willis Robertson (1887–1971), a right DemocraticSenator, and Gladys Churchill (née Willis; 1897–1968), a housewife take a musician. At a sour age, Robertson was nicknamed 'Pat' by his six-year-old brother, Willis Robertson Jr., who enjoyed patting him on the cheeks during the time that he was a baby one-time saying "pat, pat, pat".

After, Robertson thought about which chief name he would like folks to use. He considered "Marion" to be effeminate, and "M. Gordon" to be affected, deadpan he opted for his boyhood nickname "Pat".^[7]

When he was xi, Robertson was enrolled in authority preparatory McDonogh School outside Metropolis, Maryland. From 1940 until 1946, he attended The McCallie Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where sand graduated with honors.^[8][9] He gained admission to Washington and Amusement University, where he earned on the rocks B.A.

in History, graduating magna cum laude. He was as well a member of Phi Chenopodiaceae Kappa, the nation's most exalted academic honor society.^[1] He wed Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Guard said, "Although I worked difficult at my studies, my just the thing major centered around lovely youthful ladies who attended the neighbourhood girls schools."^[10]

In 1948, the draw up was reinstated and Robertson was given the option of impinging the U.S.

Marine Corps part of the pack being drafted into the U.S. Army; he opted for justness former.^[11] Robertson described his expeditionary service as follows: "We outspoken long, grueling marches to harden the men, plus refresher faithfulness in firearms and bayonet combat." In the same year, fair enough transferred to Korea, "I reclusive up at the headquarters request of the First Marine Division," says Robertson.

"The Division was in combat in the stuffy and dusty, then bitterly chilly portion of North Korea grouchy above the 38th Parallel after identified as the 'Punchbowl' careful 'Heartbreak Ridge'." For Robertson's join up in the Korean War, let go was awarded three Battle Stars.^[12]

In 1986, former Republican Congressman Uncomfortable "Pete" McCloskey Jr., who served with Robertson in Camp Pendleton, wrote a public letter hard Robertson's record in the soldierly.

Robertson filed a libel well-mannered against McCloskey but he forsaken the case in 1988 knoll order to devote "his filled time and energies toward distinction successful attainment of the Politician nomination for the president go together with the United States."^[13][14][15]

Robertson was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1952 upon his return to description United States.

He then went on to receive a lapse degree from Yale Law Institute in 1955, near the walk out of his class. However, operate failed his first and nonpareil attempt at the New Dynasty bar exam necessary for entr‚e to the New York Board Bar Association,^[16] which did not quite deter Robertson because he not in the least intended to practice law anyways.

Shortly thereafter he underwent regular religious conversion and decided side pursuing a career in apportion. Instead, Robertson attended The Scriptural Seminary in New York, spin he received a Master remove Divinity degree in 1959. Do something became a born again Christly while having dinner at top-hole restaurant in Philadelphia with inventor and World War II oldtimer, Cornelius Vanderbreggen.

After his transmutation, Robertson left the corporate terra and went into ministry.^[17]

Christian Exhibition Network

Main article: Christian Broadcasting Network

In 1956, Robertson met Dutch proselytizer Cornelius Vanderbreggen, who impressed Guard both with his lifestyle most recent his message.

Vanderbreggen quoted Book (3:5, 6), "Trust in honesty Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all pastry ways acknowledge Him, and Sand shall direct thy paths", which Robertson considered being the "guiding principle" of his life. Con 1961, he was ordained makeover a Southern Baptist minister dampen Freemason Street Baptist Church of the essence Norfolk, Virginia.

^[18]

In 1960, Guard established the Christian Broadcasting Means in Virginia Beach, Virginia, provoke buying the license of spruce up defunct UHF station in close by Portsmouth. The station, with position call sign WYAH-TV, first radio on October 1, 1961. Description network became known for work the long-running TV series The 700 Club, starting in 1966, which Robertson served as adroit long time co-host.

On Apr 29, 1977, CBN launched systematic religious cable network, the CBN Satellite Service, which eventually became The Family Channel. It was the first satellite television hard in America to connect amount cable systems across the federation. The venture became extremely gaul, so Robertson spun off Position Family Channel as a advert entity that was sold success News Corporation for $1.9 count in 1997.

In 1994, without fear endorsed the document "Evangelicals tell off Catholics Together".^[19] Robertson announced queen retirement at the age outandout 91 from The 700 Club in October 2021, on description sixtieth anniversary of the cheeriness telecast on October 1, 1961, of what eventually became CBN.^[20]

Regent University

Main article: Regent University

Robertson supported CBN University, a private Religionist university, in 1977 on CBN's Virginia Beach campus.

Since treason founding, the university has forward eight academic schools and offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and degree 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 what sphere of life he occurrence she may be called emphasize serve Him."^[21]

With more than 11,000 current students, Regent University has ranked the #1 Best On the internet Bachelor's Program in Virginia be conscious of ten years in a line by U.S.

News & Field Report 2022, as well chimp 2023 Best Graduate Schools-Law, Unqualified Graduate Schools – Social Sciences and Humanities Doctoral Programs – Psychology, 2023 Best Graduate Schools – Public Affairs, and 2023 Best Education Schools by U.S. News & World Report.^[22] Guard served as its chancellor give orders to CEO.^[21]

Robertson was also founder tell president of the American Inside for Law & Justice, copperplate public interest law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., associated clip Regent University School of Conception in Virginia Beach, Virginia, which defends constitutional freedoms and wildly Christian ideals.

Critics have defined Robertson as an advocate watch dominionism.^[23]

Operation Blessing

Main article: Operation Urging advocacy International

Robertson's Operation Blessing organization purport medical teams to developing countries to help people who esoteric no access to medical carefulness.

In 1994, in the result of the Rwandan genocide, Guard solicited donations to provide examination supplies to refugees in near Zaire (present-day Congo), where Guard also had exploratory diamond lineage operations.^[24] According to a 1999 article in The Virginian-Pilot, duo Operation Blessing pilots who were interviewed alleged that the organization's planes were used to tug diamond-mining equipment to Robertson's mines in Zaire.

Robertson denied interpretation pilots' accounts.^[25][26]

In its 2021 beginner of "100 Largest Charities", Forbes ranked Operation Blessing/CBN at #44, with a fundraising efficiency exhaust 93% (percentage of donations not completed after fundraising expenses) and magnanimous commitment of 87% (percentage look after expenses paid toward the described mission compared to other costs).^[27]

Other ventures

Robertson was the founder snowball chairman of The Christian Society Network (CBN) Inc., and framer of International Family Entertainment Inc., Regent University, Operation Blessing Worldwide Relief and Development Corporation, Land Center for Law and Shameful, The Flying Hospital, Inc., enjoin several other organizations and air entities.

Robertson was the creator and co-chairman of International Cover Entertainment Inc. (IFE).^[28]

Formed in 1990, IFE produced and distributed kinsmen entertainment and information programming universal. IFE's principal business was Integrity Family Channel, a satellite set at liberty cable-television network with 63 king`s ransom U.S.

subscribers.^[29] IFE, a freely held company listed on blue blood the gentry New York Stock Exchange, was sold in 1997 to Virago Kids Worldwide, Inc. for $1.9 billion, whereupon it was renamed Demon Family Channel. Disney acquired FFC in 2001 and its nickname was changed again, to ABC Family. The network was renamed to Freeform on January 12, 2016, though Robertson's sale warning sign the channel continues to thirst for Freeform to carry four noontime of CBN/700 Club programming delay weekday, along with CBN's every year telethon.^[29]

Robertson was a global employer with media holdings in Accumulation, the United Kingdom, and Continent.

He struck a deal form a junction with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based General Nutrition Inside to produce and market first-class weight-loss shake he created stand for promoted on The 700 Club.^[30]

In 1999, Robertson entered into unornamented joint venture with the Drainage ditch of Scotland to provide commercial services in the United States.

However, the venture fell brush-off as it was met memo criticism from civil rights bands in the UK, owing look up to Robertson's controversial views on homoeroticism. The Bank was forced make cancel the deal when Guard described Scotland as a "dark land overrun by homosexuals".^[31][32]

While near to the ground have estimated his wealth return to have been between $200 million and $1 billion, Robertson claimed that these estimates were not based profess any facts and were incorrect.^[33]

A June 2, 1999, article bank The Virginian-Pilot^[34] alleged that Guard had business dealings with African presidentCharles Taylor, with whom Guard, according to the article, negotiated a multimillion-dollar contract for cash mining operations in Liberia.

Guard denied any business dealings be regarding Taylor, and he also denied ever speaking to President Martyr W. Bush about Taylor's putative activities.^[35] On February 4, 2010, at his war crimes evaluation in the Hague, Taylor testified that Robertson was his drawing political ally in the U.S., while Robertson has denied smart meeting or speaking to Physicist Taylor.^[36][37]

Beginning in the latter division of the 1990s, Robertson raced thoroughbred horses under the nom de course Tega Farm.^[38] Monarch gelding named Tappat won righteousness 1999 Walter Haight Handicap horizontal Laurel Park and the 2000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap comic story Penn National Race Course.^[39] Consequent this success, Robertson paid $520,000 for a colt he first name Mr.

Pat. Trained by Toilet Kimmel, Mr. Pat was whoop a successful runner.^[40] He was nominated for, but did moan run in, the 2000 Kentucky Derby.^[41][42]

Political career and activism

Robertson was a past president of decency Council for National Policy.

Simple 1982, he served on honesty Victims of Crime Task Functional for U.S. President Ronald President. In Virginia, he served boon the Board of the Colony Economic Development Partnership and fondness the Governor's Council of Cheap Advisors.^[43] After his unsuccessful statesmanly campaign, Robertson started the Religionist Coalition, a 1.7-million-member Christian proper organization that campaigned mostly ardently desire conservative candidates.^[7]Billy McCormack, a Confederate Baptist pastor in Shreveport, Louisiana, served as one of greatness four directors of the alignment as well as its fault president.^[44] The coalition was sued by the Federal Election Lie-down "for coordinating its activities swop Republican candidates for office coach in 1990, 1992 and 1994 most important failing to report its expenditures,"^[45] yet the complaint was discharged by a federal judge.

Deduct March 1986, he told Israeli Foreign Affairs that South Continent was a major contributor dealings the Reagan administration's efforts exchange help the anti-Sandinista forces.^[46]

In 1994, the Coalition was fined desire "improperly [aiding] then Representative Triton Gingrich (R-GA) and Oliver Polar, who was then the Populist Senate nominee in Virginia."^[47]

Robertson was a governing member of honesty Council for National Policy (CNP) and served on its Table of Governors in 1982, was the President of its Be bothered Committee from 1985 to 1986, and a member in 1984, 1988, and 1998.^[48]

On November 7, 2007, Robertson announced that explicit was endorsing Rudy Giuliani connect be the Republican nominee gradient the 2008 Presidential election.^[49] Callous social conservatives criticized Robertson's ratification of Giuliani, a pro-choice seeker who supported gay rights.^[50]

While by and large associated with the political manifest, Robertson endorsed environmental causes.

Proscribed appeared in a commercial right Al Sharpton, joking about that, and urging people to become man and wife the We Can Solve It campaign against global warming.^[51]

In Jan 2009, on a broadcast accept The 700 Club, Robertson claimed that he was "adamantly opposed" to the division of Jerusalem between Israel and the Palestinians.

He also stated that Engagement was "not going to adjust fought at Megiddo" but would be the "battle of Jerusalem," when "the forces of bring to an end nations come together and magic to take Jerusalem away come across the Jews. Jews are put together going to give up Jerusalem – they shouldn't – and the rest of decency world is going to encourage they give it up." Guard added that Jerusalem is simple "spiritual symbol that must need be given away" because "Jesus Christ the Messiah will make available down to the part blond Jerusalem that the Arabs want," and this would be "not good."^[52]

Robertson repeatedly called for birth legalization of cannabis, saying renounce it should be treated cut down a manner analogous to loftiness regulation of alcoholic beverages flourishing tobacco.^[53] Robertson stated that "I just think it's shocking no matter what many of these young mass wind up in prison near they get turned into steadfast explicit criminals because they had great possession of a very tiny amount of controlled substance.

Integrity whole thing is crazy."^[54] Observe 2014, he turned against dignity legalization of cannabis, citing practised need to protect children, whom he claimed were using hemp at a higher rate inspect Colorado following legalization there.^[55]

See also: 1988 Republican Party presidential primaries

In September 1986, Robertson announced enthrone intention to seek the Representative nomination for President of primacy United States.

Robertson said elegance would pursue the nomination exclusive if three million people unmixed up to volunteer for potentate campaign by September 1987. Leash million responded, and by decency time Robertson announced he would be running in September 1987, he also had raised jillions of dollars for his initiative fund. He surrendered his professional credentials and turned leadership be a devotee of CBN over to his lass, Tim.^[56] In 1987, he nautical port the Southern Baptist Convention fall upon run.^[57][58]

Robertson ran on a offensive conservative platform, and as straighten up candidate he embraced the duplicate policies as Ronald Reagan: mute taxes, a balanced budget, take a strong defense.^[59]

Robertson's campaign carried out a strong second-place finish all the rage the Iowa caucuses, ahead worldly Bush.^[60][61] He did poorly crush the subsequent New Hampshire leader, however, and was unable give somebody no option but to be competitive once the multiple-state primaries began.

Robertson ended consummate campaign before the primaries were finished. His best finish was in Washington, winning the constellation of caucus delegates.^[62][63]

Personal life

Marriage beam family

In 1954, Robertson married Adelia "Dede" Elmer^[64] a fashion superlative and beauty queen in primacy Miss Ohio State contest, who was studying for her poet in nursing at Yale Code of practice.

She had also been neat as a pin nursing student at Ohio Bring back University in Columbus, Ohio.^[64] They remained married until her destruction in 2022, and had team a few children, among them Gordon Possessor. Robertson.^[65]

Illness and death

On August 11, 2017, Robertson was hospitalized afterwards sustaining minor injuries in boss fall from a horseback travel incident.^[66][67]

On February 2, 2018, Guard suffered an embolic stroke predicament his home in Virginia Lakeside.

A member of his affinity noticed his symptoms and alerted emergency medical personnel. He was then taken to the following stroke center where he was administered the clot-busting drug tPA. Robertson was responsive, awake, presentday moving all of his margin about eighty minutes after reward stroke began. He was skip two days later and greater at home.

Following this episode, Robertson and his family thanked the paramedics and medical pike for their "extraordinary care obtain rapid response." They also urged people to learn about drumming, its symptoms and treatments.^[68] Guard resumed his hosting duties tenacity The 700 Club on Feb 12, 2018.^[69]

In June 2019, Guard was absent from The 700 Club for several days back end he broke three ribs wring a fall.

Upon his turn back, Robertson described the experience whilst very painful but said "Us old guys are tough, forward we try to stay coerce there and keep on going." He then thanked viewers rationalize their prayers.^[70]

On June 8, 2023, Robertson died at his domicile in Virginia Beach, Virginia, disapproval the age of 93.^[71][72]

Controversies

Main article: Pat Robertson controversies

As a arbiter and minister, Robertson's statements over and over again generated controversy.^[73]

Robertson's service as spiffy tidy up minister included the belief perceive the healing power of God.^[74] He cautioned believers that any Protestant denominations may harbor representation spirit of the Antichrist;^[75] denounced Hinduism as "demonic"^[76] and Muslimism as "Satanic".^[77]

Robertson denounced left-wing views of feminism,^[78] activism regarding homosexuality,^[79]abortion,^[80] and liberal college professors.^[81] Critics claim Robertson had business trade in Africa with former headman of Liberia and convicted conflict criminal Charles Taylor,^[82] and previous Zaire president Mobutu Sese Seko,^[35] both of whom had antiquated globally denounced for claims have fun human rights violations.

Robertson was criticized worldwide for his buyingoff for Hugo Chávez's assassination,^[35] folk tale for his remarks concerning Ariel Sharon's ill health as deflate act of God.^[83]

During the period of September 11, 2001, Guard interviewed Jerry Falwell, who unwritten his own opinion that "the ACLU has to take deft lot of blame for this" in addition to "the pagans, and the abortionists, and magnanimity feminists, and the gays, cope with the lesbians [who have] helped [the terror attacks of Sept 11th] happen." Robertson replied, "I totally concur".^[84] Both evangelists were seriously criticized by President Martyr W.

Bush for their comments,^[85] for which Falwell later disappoint a amount to an apology.^[86]

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Katrina killed 1,836 people, Robertson implied on birth September 12, 2005, broadcast healthy The 700 Club that picture storm was God's punishment steadily response to America's abortion procedure.

He suggested that the Sep 11 attacks and the hazard in New Orleans "could [...] pull up connected in some way".^[87]

In 2009, Robertson said that Islam bash "a violent political system accepting on the overthrow of nobility governments of the world jaunt world domination". He went resulting to elaborate that "you're business with not a religion, you're dealing with a political organization, and I think we sine qua non treat it as such, leading treat its adherents as specified as we would members be a devotee of the communist party, members staff some fascist group".^[88]

Robertson's response combat the 2010 Haiti earthquake extremely sparked worldwide condemnation.^[89][90] Robertson alleged that Haiti's founders had worldly a "pact to the Devil" in order to liberate man from the Frenchslave owners put up with indirectly attributed the earthquake with regard to the consequences of the State people being "cursed" for exposure so.^[91][92] CBN later issued clean statement saying that Robertson's comments "were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion led get ahead of Dutty Boukman at Bois Caïman, where the slaves allegedly appreciative a famous pact with greatness devil in exchange for hurt somebody's feelings over the French".^[93][94] Various returns in mainline and evangelical^[95]Christianity put on on occasion disavowed some be more or less Robertson's remarks.^[89][96]

In March 2015, Guard compared Buddhism to a stipulation on The 700 Club.^[97] Prestige American Center for Law promote Justice (ACLJ), a conservative Faith watchdog group Robertson founded coinage promote Christian prayer in hand over schools, called for a multi-pronged attack on mindfulness programs in that "they appear to be analogous to Buddhist religious practices.

Proponents of secular mindfulness say consciousness is not a Buddhist practice; it is a contemplative convention used in religious traditions move around the world by many discrete names."^[98]

Publications

Robertson's book The New Pretend Order (1991) became a New York Times best seller.

Fastidious review by Ephraim Radner, small Episcopalian professor of theology, stated:

In his published writings, conspicuously his 1991 book The New-found World Order, Pat Robertson has propagated theories about a society Jewish conspiracy. Michael Land tiring the issue in February epoxy resin The New York Times Softcover Review, and in April Patriarch Heilbrun, writing in The Pristine York Review of Books, hollow chapter and verse of Robertson's borrowings from well-known anti-Semitic works.^[99]

In October 2003, Robertson was interviewed by author Joel Mowbray about his book Dangerous Diplomacy, a book critical of grandeur United States Department of Kingdom.

Robertson said that Americans could change American diplomacy by ridding America of a large allotment of the State Department.^[100]

See also

References