Pat Robertson
Televangelist, media mogul, and conservative political figure.
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson (March 22, 1930 – June 8, 2023) built a career as a media mogul, televangelist, political commentator, and Republican presidential candidate. A minister affiliated with the charismatic movement, he promoted conservative Christian ideology and was a prominent figure in GOP politics. Over more than fifty years, Robertson founded the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Regent University, the Christian Coalition, Operation Blessing International, the American Center for Law & Justice, and the International Family Entertainment Inc. (which became ABC Family/Freeform). He also hosted *The 700 Club*, a Christian news and talk show that aired weekdays on CBN and its affiliates, until his retirement in October 2021.
Robertson was born in Lexington, Virginia, on March 22, 1930, the younger son of U.S. Senator A. Willis Robertson and Gladys Churchill Willis. His older brother nicknamed him "Pat" as a baby, and Robertson later chose to use that name, finding "Marion" effeminate and "M. Gordon" affected. He attended the McDonogh School, McCallie School, and graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University with a B.A. in history, joining Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He then served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, earning three Battle Stars, and was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1952. After earning a law degree near the top of his class at Yale Law School in 1955, he failed the New York bar exam on his only attempt. A religious conversion led him to The Biblical Seminary in New York, where he received a Master of Divinity in 1959, and he was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister in 1961.
Robertson ran unsuccessfully for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination. After that campaign, he never again held an official church role. He remained a controversial figure, known for his evangelical religiocentrism and opposition to LGBTQ rights, feminism, and abortion. He also promoted conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and New World Order, and was described as "a vector for vivid conspiracy theories on the right." Scholars have noted his significant influence on the religious and political right in American politics.
- born
- March 22, 1930, Lexington, Virginia
- died
- June 8, 2023
- field
- Televangelism, media, politics
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Founder of Christian Broadcasting Network, The 700 Club, Regent University, Chri
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Honorific Prefix
- The Reverend
- Birth Name
- Marion Gordon Robertson
- Birth Date
- 1930-03-22
- Birth Place
- Lexington, Virginia, U.S.
- Death Date
- 2023-06-08
- Death Place
- Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
- Occupation
- Chancellor of Regent University / Chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network
- Years Active
- 1961–2023
- Education
- Washington and Lee University (BA) / Yale University (LLB) / New York Theological Seminary (MDiv)
- Television
- The 700 Club (1966–2021)
- Political Party
- Republican
- Spouse
- Dede Elmer · 1954 · 2022 · end = died
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Pat Robertson was born into a prominent political family; his father, A. Willis Robertson, was a conservative Democratic U.S. Senator. He earned a B.A. in history from Washington and Lee University, graduating magna cum laude and joining Phi Beta Kappa. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, receiving three Battle Stars. After earning a law degree from Yale Law School in 1955 near the top of his class, he failed his first and only attempt at the New York bar exam. Following a religious conversion, he earned a Master of Divinity from The Biblical Seminary in New York in 1959. He was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister in 1961 by Freemason Street Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1960, Robertson established the Christian Broadcasting Network by buying the license of a defunct UHF station in Portsmouth, Virginia. The station, WYAH-TV, first broadcast on October 1, 1961. CBN launched The 700 Club in 1966, which Robertson co-hosted for decades. On April 29, 1977, CBN launched the first satellite television channel in America, the CBN Satellite Service, which became The Family Channel and was later sold to News Corporation for $1.9 billion in 1997. Robertson founded CBN University (renamed Regent University in 1990) in 1977. He also founded Operation Blessing International, the American Center for Law & Justice, and the Christian Coalition. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 1988. Robertson retired from hosting The 700 Club in October 2021, on the sixtieth anniversary of CBN's first telecast. Robertson was a controversial figure, known for his opposition to LGBTQ rights, feminism, and abortion, and for promoting conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and New World Order. He was described as 'a vector for vivid conspiracy theories on the right.'
Reader's Guide
Pat Robertson's significance lies in his fusion of conservative Christian theology with mass media and political activism. By founding CBN and The 700 Club, he created a platform that reached millions of viewers daily, shaping evangelical discourse and mobilizing conservative voters. His founding of the Christian Coalition, a 1.7-million-member organization, provided a grassroots infrastructure that influenced Republican Party politics. Robertson also established Regent University, which became a training ground for conservative leaders in law, government, and media. His advocacy of dominionist ideas and his promotion of conspiracy theories, however, made him a polarizing figure. Scholars credit him with helping to shift the American religious right from a peripheral movement to a central force in national politics, though his legacy remains contested due to his controversial statements and alliances.
Did You Know?
- Robertson earned a B.A. in history from Washington and Lee University, graduating magna cum laude and joining Phi Beta Kappa.
- He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and was awarded three Battle Stars.
- Robertson failed his first and only attempt at the New York bar exam after earning a law degree from Yale Law School.
- He founded the Christian Broadcasting Network in 1960 by buying the license of a defunct UHF station in Portsmouth, Virginia.
- Robertson retired from hosting The 700 Club in October 2021, on the sixtieth anniversary of CBN's first telecast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pat Robertson?
Pat Robertson was a prominent American televangelist, media entrepreneur, and conservative political commentator associated with the charismatic movement in American Christianity. He was born in Lexington, Virginia, in 1930 and died in 2023.
What major organizations did Pat Robertson establish?
He created the Christian Broadcasting Network, Regent University, and the Christian Coalition, among other ventures. These institutions became central to his mission of blending faith-based media with political engagement.
What was The 700 Club?
The 700 Club was a long-running daily Christian news and talk show that Robertson hosted for decades. It became one of the most recognizable programs in American religious broadcasting.
Did Pat Robertson run for president?
Yes, he was a Republican presidential candidate in 1988. His campaign highlighted his broader involvement in conservative politics and the Republican Party.
Why is Pat Robertson significant in American religious history?
Scholars recognize his decades-long influence on how evangelical Christianity intersected with media and politics in the United States. His career spanned more than fifty years across broadcasting, education, and public policy advocacy.
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