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Pat Robertson

Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson (March 22, 1930 – June 8, 2023) was an American media mogul, religious broadcaster, political commentator, presidential candidate, and charismatic minister. Robertson advocated a conservative Christian ideology and was known for his involvement in Republican Party politics. He was associated with the Charismatic movement within Protestant evangelicalism. He served as head of Regent University and of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).

Pat Robertson
Robertson in 2006
Born
Marion Gordon Robertson

(1930-03-22)March 22, 1930
DiedJune 8, 2023(2023-06-08) (aged 93)
Education
Occupations
Years active1961–2023
TelevisionThe 700 Club (1966–2021)
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
(m. 1954; died 2022)
Children4, including Gordon
Parent
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
RankFirst Lieutenant
Battles/warsKorean War
Websitepatrobertson.com

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, the International Family Entertainment Inc. (ABC Family Channel/Freeform), the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), the Founders Inn and Conference Center, and the Christian Coalition.[1][2] Robertson was also a best-selling author and the host of The 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 network affiliates worldwide.[1] Robertson retired from The 700 Club in October 2021.[3]

The son of U.S. Senator A. Willis Robertson, Robertson was a Southern Baptist and was active as an ordained minister with that denomination for many years, but held to a charismatic theology not traditionally common among Southern Baptists.[4][5] He unsuccessfully campaigned to become the Republican nominee in the 1988 presidential election.[6] As a result of his seeking political office, he never again served in an official role for any church.

Robertson remained a controversial figure, especially known for evangelical religiocentrism. 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, including LGBT rights, feminism, and the right to abortion, was frequently criticized.[7]

Early life

Marion Gordon Robertson was born on March 22, 1930,[1] in Lexington, Virginia, into a prominent political family, the younger of two sons. His parents were Absalom Willis Robertson (1887–1971), a conservative Democratic Senator, 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 preparatory McDonogh School outside Baltimore, Maryland. From 1940 until 1946 he attended The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he graduated with honors.[8][9] He gained admission to Washington and Lee University, where he earned a B.A. in History, graduating magna cum laude. He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's most prestigious academic honor society.[1] He joined Sigma 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, the draft was reinstated and Robertson was given the option of joining the U.S. Marine Corps or being drafted into the U.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 to Korea, "I ended up at the headquarters command of the First Marine Division," says Robertson. "The Division was in combat in the hot and dusty, then bitterly cold portion of North Korea just above the 38th Parallel later identified as the 'Punchbowl' and 'Heartbreak Ridge'." For Robertson's service in the Korean War, he was awarded three Battle Stars.[12]

In 1986, former Republican Congressman Paul "Pete" McCloskey, Jr., who served with Robertson in Camp Pendleton, wrote a public letter challenging Robertson's record in the military. Robertson filed a libel 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 to First Lieutenant in 1952 upon his return to the United States. He then went on to receive a law degree from Yale Law School in 1955, near the top of his class. However, he failed his first and only attempt at the New York bar exam necessary for admission to the New York State Bar Association,[16] which did not deter Robertson because he never intended to practice law anyway. Shortly thereafter he underwent a religious conversion and decided against pursuing a career in business. Instead, Robertson attended The Biblical Seminary in New York, where he received a Master of Divinity degree in 1959. He became a born again Christian while having dinner at a restaurant in Philadelphia with author and World War II veteran, Cornelius Vanderbreggen. After his conversion, Robertson left the corporate world and went into ministry.[17]

Christian Broadcasting Network

In 1956, Robertson met Dutch missionary Cornelius Vanderbreggen, who impressed Robertson both with his lifestyle and his message. Vanderbreggen quoted Proverbs (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 by Freemason Street Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia. [18]

In 1960, Robertson established the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, Virginia, by buying the license of a defunct UHF station in nearby Portsmouth. The station, with the call sign WYAH-TV, first broadcast on October 1, 1961. The network became known for producing the long-running TV series The 700 Club, starting in 1966, which Robertson served as a long time co-host. On April 29, 1977, CBN launched a religious cable network, the CBN Satellite Service, which eventually became The Family Channel. It was the first satellite 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 to News 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 from The 700 Club in October 2021, on the sixtieth anniversary of the first telecast on October 1, 1961, of what eventually became CBN.[20]

Regent University

 
Regent University – Robertson Hall, home to the School of Law and Robertson School of Government

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 offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral 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."[21]

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 by U.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 by U.S. News & World Report.[22] Robertson served as its chancellor and CEO.[21]

Robertson was also founder and president of the American Center for Law & Justice, a public interest law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., associated with Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, which defends constitutional freedoms and conservative Christian ideals. Critics have characterized Robertson as an advocate of dominionism.[23]

Operation Blessing

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 the Rwandan genocide, Robertson solicited donations to provide medical supplies to refugees in neighboring Zaire (present-day Congo), where Robertson also had exploratory diamond mining operations.[24] According to a 1999 article in The 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.[25][26]

In its 2021 ranking of "100 Largest Charities," Forbes ranked Operation Blessing/CBN at #44, with an efficiency rating of over 90%.[27]

Other ventures

Robertson was the founder and chairman of The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Inc., and founder of International 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 of International Family Entertainment Inc. (IFE).[28]

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.[29] IFE, a publicly held company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, was sold in 1997 to Fox Kids Worldwide, Inc. for $1.9 billion, whereupon it was renamed Fox Family Channel. Disney acquired FFC in 2001 and its name was changed again, to ABC Family. The network was renamed to Freeform 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 yearly telethon.[29]

Robertson was a global businessman with media holdings in Asia, the United Kingdom, and Africa. He struck a deal with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based General Nutrition Center to produce and market a weight-loss shake he created and promoted on The 700 Club.[30]

In 1999, Robertson entered into a joint venture with the Bank 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".[31][32]

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.[33]

A June 2, 1999, article in The Virginian-Pilot[34] alleged that Robertson had business dealings with Liberian president Charles 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 President George W. Bush about Taylor's alleged activities.[35] On February 4, 2010, at his war crimes trial in the 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.[36][37]

Beginning in the latter part of the 1990s, Robertson raced thoroughbred horses under the nom de course Tega Farm.[38] His gelding named Tappat won the 1999 Walter Haight Handicap at Laurel Park and the 2000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap at Penn National Race Course.[39] Following this success, Robertson paid $520,000 for a colt he named Mr. Pat. Trained by John Kimmel, Mr. Pat was not a successful runner.[40] He was nominated for, but did not run in, the 2000 Kentucky Derby.[41][42]

Political service and activism

 
Robertson meets with President George H. W. Bush in 1991.

Robertson was a past president of the Council for National Policy. In 1982, he served on the Victims of Crime Task Force for U.S. President Ronald Reagan. In Virginia, he served on the Board of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and on the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors.[43] After his unsuccessful presidential campaign, Robertson started the Christian Coalition, a 1.7-million-member Christian right organization that campaigned mostly for conservative candidates.[7] Billy McCormack, a Southern Baptist pastor in Shreveport, Louisiana, served as one of the four directors of the coalition as well as its vice president.[44] The coalition was sued by the Federal Election Commission "for coordinating its activities with Republican candidates for office in 1990, 1992 and 1994 and failing to report its expenditures,"[45] yet the complaint was dismissed by a federal judge. In March 1986, he told Israeli Foreign Affairs that South Africa was a major contributor to the Reagan administration's efforts to help the anti-Sandinista forces.[46]

In 1994, the Coalition was fined for "improperly [aiding] then Representative Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and Oliver North, who was then the Republican Senate nominee in Virginia."[47]

Robertson was a governing member of the Council 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.[48]

On November 7, 2007, Robertson announced that he was endorsing Rudy Giuliani to be the Republican nominee in the 2008 Presidential election.[49] Some social conservatives criticized Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani, a pro-choice candidate who supported gay rights.[50]

While usually associated with the political right, Robertson endorsed environmental causes. He appeared in a commercial with Al Sharpton, joking about this, and urging people to join the We Can Solve It campaign against global warming.[51]

In January 2009, on a broadcast of The 700 Club, Robertson stated that he was "adamantly opposed" to the division of Jerusalem between Israel and the Palestinians. He also stated that Armageddon was "not going to be fought at Megiddo" 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 the Messiah will come down to the part of Jerusalem that the Arabs want," and this would be "not good."[52]

Robertson repeatedly called for the legalization of cannabis, saying that it should be treated in a manner analogous to the regulation of alcoholic beverages and tobacco.[53] 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."[54] In 2014, he turned against the legalization of cannabis.[55]

1988 presidential bid

 
Robertson speaking at the Florida Economics Club in 1986.
 
Bumper sticker from Robertson's campaign

In September 1986, Robertson announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for President 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.[56] In 1987, he left the Southern Baptist Convention to run.[57][58]

Robertson ran on a standard conservative platform, and as a candidate he embraced the same policies as Ronald Reagan: lower taxes, a balanced budget, and a strong defense.[59]

Robertson's campaign achieved a strong second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, ahead of Bush.[60][61] He did poorly in the subsequent New 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 in Washington, winning the majority of caucus delegates.[62][63]

Personal life

Marriage and family

In 1954, Robertson married Adelia "Dede" Elmer[64] a fashion model and beauty queen in the Miss Ohio State contest, who was studying for her masters in nursing at Yale University. She had also been a nursing student at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.[64] They remained married until her death in 2022, and had four children, among them Gordon P. Robertson.[65]

Illness and death

On August 11, 2017, Robertson was hospitalized after sustaining minor injuries in a fall from a horseback riding incident.[66][67]

On February 2, 2018, Robertson suffered an embolic 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 drug tPA. 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 the paramedics and medical staff for their "extraordinary care and rapid response." They also urged people to learn about stroke, its symptoms and treatments.[68] Robertson resumed his hosting duties on The 700 Club on February 12.[69]

In June 2019, Robertson was absent from The 700 Club for several days after he broke three ribs in a fall. Upon his return, 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.[70]

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

Controversies

As a commentator and minister, Robertson's statements frequently generated controversy.[73]

Robertson's service as a minister included the belief in the healing power of God.[74] He cautioned believers that some Protestant denominations may harbor the spirit of the Antichrist;[75] prayed to deflect hurricanes;[76] denounced Hinduism as "demonic"[77] and Islam as "Satanic".[78]

Robertson denounced left-wing views of feminism,[79] activism regarding homosexuality,[80] abortion,[81] and liberal college professors.[82] Critics claim Robertson had business dealings in Africa with former president of Liberia and convicted war criminal Charles Taylor,[83] and former Zaire president Mobutu Sese Seko,[35] both of whom had been globally denounced for claims of human rights violations. Robertson was criticized worldwide for his call for Hugo Chávez's assassination,[35] and for his remarks concerning Ariel Sharon's ill health as an act of God.[84]

During the week of September 11, 2001, Robertson interviewed Jerry Falwell, who expressed his own opinion that "the ACLU has to take a lot of blame for this" in addition to "the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays, and the lesbians [who have] helped [the terror attacks of September 11th] happen." Robertson replied, "I totally concur".[85] Both evangelists were seriously criticized by President George W. Bush for their comments,[86] for which Falwell later issued an apology.[87]

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Katrina killed 1,836 people, Robertson implied on the September 12, 2005, broadcast of The 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".[88]

In 2009, Robertson said that Islam 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 the communist party, members of some fascist group".[89]

Robertson's response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake also sparked worldwide condemnation.[90][91] Robertson claimed that Haiti's founders had sworn a "pact to the Devil" in order to liberate themselves from the French slave owners and indirectly attributed the earthquake to the consequences of the Haitian people being "cursed" for doing so.[92][93] CBN later issued a statement saying that Robertson's comments "were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion led by Dutty Boukman at Bois Caïman, where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French".[94][95] Various figures in mainline and evangelical[96] Christianity have on occasion disavowed some of Robertson's remarks.[90][97]

In March 2015, Robertson compared Buddhism to a disease on The 700 Club.[98] The American 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 on mindfulness 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."[99]

Publications

Robertson's book The New World Order (1991) became a New York Times best seller. A review by Ephraim Radner, an Episcopalian professor of theology, stated:

In his published writings, especially his 1991 book The New World Order, Pat Robertson has propagated theories about a worldwide Jewish conspiracy. Michael Land raised the issue in February in The New York Times Book Review, and in April Jacob Heilbrun, writing in The New York Review of Books, cited chapter and verse of Robertson's borrowings from well-known anti-Semitic works.[100]

In October 2003, Robertson was interviewed by author Joel Mowbray about his book Dangerous Diplomacy, a book critical of the United States Department of State. Robertson said that Americans could change American diplomacy by ridding America of a large part of the State Department.[101]

  • Shout It from the Housetops, an autobiography with Jamie Buckingham (1972, repr 1995) ISBN 978-0912106304
  • My Prayer for You (1977) ISBN 978-0800752644
  • The Secret Kingdom (1982) ISBN 978-0840752727
  • Answers to 200 of Life's Most Probing Questions (1984) ISBN 0-8407-5465-5
  • Beyond Reason: How Miracles can Change your Life (1985) ISBN 0-688-02214-6
  • America's Dates with Destiny (1986) ISBN 0-8407-7756-6
  • The Plan (1989) ISBN 0-8407-7227-0
  • The New Millennium (1990) ISBN 978-0849908378
  • The New World Order (1991) ISBN 0-8499-0915-5
  • Turning Tide: The Fall of Liberalism and the Rise of Common Sense (1993) ISBN 978-0-8499-0972-6
  • The End of the Age (1995, fiction) ISBN 0-8499-1290-3
  • Six Steps to Spiritual Revival: God's Awesome Power in Your Life (2002) ISBN 978-1-59052-055-0
  • Bring It on: Tough Questions, Candid Answers, Nashville, Tenn: W Pub. Group, 2003. ISBN 978-0-8499-1801-8
  • The Ten Offenses (2004) ISBN 978-0849918018
  • Courting Disaster (2004) ISBN 1-59145-142-6
  • Miracles Can Be Yours Today (2006) ISBN 1-59145-423-9
  • On Humility (2009) ISBN 978-0312376383
  • Right on the Money: Financial Advice for Tough Times (2009) ISBN 978-0446549585
  • I Have Walked With the Living God (2020) ISBN 978-1-6299-9873-2
  • The Power of the Holy Spirit in You: Understanding the Miraculous Power of God (2022) ISBN 978-1-6845-1251-5
  • The Shepherd King: The Life of David (2023) ISBN 978-0998615707

See also

References

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  6. ^ The New York Times: "Pat Robertson: A Candidate of Contradictions" January 27, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. February 27, 1988.
  7. ^ a b c David John Marley. Pat Robertson: An American Life. ISBN 978-0-7425-5295-1
  8. ^ "M.G. "Pat" Robertson". Regent University. from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
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  12. ^ , The Official Site of Pat Robertson via Internet Archive.
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  36. ^ . Turtlebay.foreignpolicy.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
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  38. ^ Washington City Paper December 14, 2001 article titled "Horseman of the Apocalypse" July 30, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 30, 2018
  39. ^ Tappat's pedigree, sales record, and racing statistics at Equibase July 30, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 30, 2018
  40. ^ Mr. Pat's pedigree, sales record, and racing statistics at Equibase July 31, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 30, 2018
  41. ^ . Thoroughbred Times. February 10, 2002. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
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  47. ^ , Rns, Christian Century, August 11, 1999.
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Further reading

  • Boston, Robert (1996). The Most Dangerous Man in America: Pat Robertson and the Rise of the Christian Coalition. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. ISBN 978-1-57392-053-7.
  • Harrell, David Edwin Jr. (2010). Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub. ISBN 978-0-8028-6384-3.
  • Marley, David John. Pat Robertson: An American Life

External links

  • Official website  
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
  • Archive of American Television interview with Pat Robertson

robertson, other, people, with, same, name, patrick, robertson, disambiguation, marion, gordon, robertson, march, 1930, june, 2023, american, media, mogul, religious, broadcaster, political, commentator, presidential, candidate, charismatic, minister, robertso. For other people with the same name see Patrick Robertson disambiguation Marion Gordon Pat Robertson March 22 1930 June 8 2023 was an American media mogul religious broadcaster political commentator presidential candidate and charismatic minister Robertson advocated a conservative Christian ideology and was known for his involvement in Republican Party politics He was associated with the Charismatic movement within Protestant evangelicalism He served as head of Regent University and of the Christian Broadcasting Network CBN Pat RobertsonRobertson in 2006BornMarion Gordon Robertson 1930 03 22 March 22 1930Lexington Virginia U S DiedJune 8 2023 2023 06 08 aged 93 Virginia Beach Virginia U S EducationWashington and Lee University BA Yale University LLB New York Theological Seminary MDiv OccupationsChancellor of Regent University Chairman of the Christian Broadcasting NetworkYears active1961 2023TelevisionThe 700 Club 1966 2021 Political partyRepublicanSpouseDede Elmer m 1954 died 2022 wbr Children4 including GordonParentAbsalom Willis Robertson father Military careerAllegiance United StatesService wbr branch United States Marine CorpsRankFirst LieutenantBattles warsKorean WarWebsitepatrobertson wbr comRobertson s career spanned over five decades and was the founder of several organizations including CBN Regent University Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation the International Family Entertainment Inc ABC Family Channel Freeform the American Center for Law amp Justice ACLJ the Founders Inn and Conference Center and the Christian Coalition 1 2 Robertson was also a best selling author and the host of The 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 network affiliates worldwide 1 Robertson retired from The 700 Club in October 2021 3 The son of U S Senator A Willis Robertson Robertson was a Southern Baptist and was active as an ordained minister with that denomination for many years but held to a charismatic theology not traditionally common among Southern Baptists 4 5 He unsuccessfully campaigned to become the Republican nominee in the 1988 presidential election 6 As a result of his seeking political office he never again served in an official role for any church Robertson remained a controversial figure especially known for evangelical religiocentrism 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 including LGBT rights feminism and the right to abortion was frequently criticized 7 Contents 1 Early life 2 Christian Broadcasting Network 3 Regent University 4 Operation Blessing 5 Other ventures 6 Political service and activism 6 1 1988 presidential bid 7 Personal life 7 1 Marriage and family 7 2 Illness and death 8 Controversies 9 Publications 10 See also 11 References 12 Further reading 13 External linksEarly lifeMarion Gordon Robertson was born on March 22 1930 1 in Lexington Virginia into a prominent political family the younger of two sons His parents were Absalom Willis Robertson 1887 1971 a conservative Democratic Senator and Gladys Churchill nee 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 preparatory McDonogh School outside Baltimore Maryland From 1940 until 1946 he attended The McCallie School in Chattanooga Tennessee where he graduated with honors 8 9 He gained admission to Washington and Lee University where he earned a B A in History graduating magna cum laude He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa the nation s most prestigious academic honor society 1 He joined Sigma 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 the draft was reinstated and Robertson was given the option of joining the U S Marine Corps or being drafted into the U 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 to Korea I ended up at the headquarters command of the First Marine Division says Robertson The Division was in combat in the hot and dusty then bitterly cold portion of North Korea just above the 38th Parallel later identified as the Punchbowl and Heartbreak Ridge For Robertson s service in the Korean War he was awarded three Battle Stars 12 In 1986 former Republican Congressman Paul Pete McCloskey Jr who served with Robertson in Camp Pendleton wrote a public letter challenging Robertson s record in the military Robertson filed a libel 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 to First Lieutenant in 1952 upon his return to the United States He then went on to receive a law degree from Yale Law School in 1955 near the top of his class However he failed his first and only attempt at the New York bar exam necessary for admission to the New York State Bar Association 16 which did not deter Robertson because he never intended to practice law anyway Shortly thereafter he underwent a religious conversion and decided against pursuing a career in business Instead Robertson attended The Biblical Seminary in New York where he received a Master of Divinity degree in 1959 He became a born again Christian while having dinner at a restaurant in Philadelphia with author and World War II veteran Cornelius Vanderbreggen After his conversion Robertson left the corporate world and went into ministry 17 Christian Broadcasting NetworkMain article Christian Broadcasting Network In 1956 Robertson met Dutch missionary Cornelius Vanderbreggen who impressed Robertson both with his lifestyle and his message Vanderbreggen quoted Proverbs 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 by Freemason Street Baptist Church in Norfolk Virginia 18 In 1960 Robertson established the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach Virginia by buying the license of a defunct UHF station in nearby Portsmouth The station with the call sign WYAH TV first broadcast on October 1 1961 The network became known for producing the long running TV series The 700 Club starting in 1966 which Robertson served as a long time co host On April 29 1977 CBN launched a religious cable network the CBN Satellite Service which eventually became The Family Channel It was the first satellite 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 to News 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 from The 700 Club in October 2021 on the sixtieth anniversary of the first telecast on October 1 1961 of what eventually became CBN 20 Regent UniversityMain article Regent University nbsp Regent University Robertson Hall home to the School of Law and Robertson School of GovernmentRobertson 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 offers associate bachelor s master s and doctoral 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 21 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 by U S News amp 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 by U S News amp World Report 22 Robertson served as its chancellor and CEO 21 Robertson was also founder and president of the American Center for Law amp Justice a public interest law firm headquartered in Washington D C associated with Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach Virginia which defends constitutional freedoms and conservative Christian ideals Critics have characterized Robertson as an advocate of dominionism 23 Operation BlessingMain article Operation Blessing International 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 the Rwandan genocide Robertson solicited donations to provide medical supplies to refugees in neighboring Zaire present day Congo where Robertson also had exploratory diamond mining operations 24 According to a 1999 article in The 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 25 26 In its 2021 ranking of 100 Largest Charities Forbes ranked Operation Blessing CBN at 44 with an efficiency rating of over 90 27 Other venturesRobertson was the founder and chairman of The Christian Broadcasting Network CBN Inc and founder of International 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 of International Family Entertainment Inc IFE 28 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 29 IFE a publicly held company listed on the New York Stock Exchange was sold in 1997 to Fox Kids Worldwide Inc for 1 9 billion whereupon it was renamed Fox Family Channel Disney acquired FFC in 2001 and its name was changed again to ABC Family The network was renamed to Freeform 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 yearly telethon 29 Robertson was a global businessman with media holdings in Asia the United Kingdom and Africa He struck a deal with Pittsburgh Pennsylvania based General Nutrition Center to produce and market a weight loss shake he created and promoted on The 700 Club 30 In 1999 Robertson entered into a joint venture with the Bank 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 31 32 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 33 A June 2 1999 article in The Virginian Pilot 34 alleged that Robertson had business dealings with Liberian president Charles 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 President George W Bush about Taylor s alleged activities 35 On February 4 2010 at his war crimes trial in the 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 36 37 Beginning in the latter part of the 1990s Robertson raced thoroughbred horses under the nom de course Tega Farm 38 His gelding named Tappat won the 1999 Walter Haight Handicap at Laurel Park and the 2000 Pennsylvania Governor s Cup Handicap at Penn National Race Course 39 Following this success Robertson paid 520 000 for a colt he named Mr Pat Trained by John Kimmel Mr Pat was not a successful runner 40 He was nominated for but did not run in the 2000 Kentucky Derby 41 42 Political service and activism nbsp Robertson meets with President George H W Bush in 1991 Robertson was a past president of the Council for National Policy In 1982 he served on the Victims of Crime Task Force for U S President Ronald Reagan In Virginia he served on the Board of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and on the Governor s Council of Economic Advisors 43 After his unsuccessful presidential campaign Robertson started the Christian Coalition a 1 7 million member Christian right organization that campaigned mostly for conservative candidates 7 Billy McCormack a Southern Baptist pastor in Shreveport Louisiana served as one of the four directors of the coalition as well as its vice president 44 The coalition was sued by the Federal Election Commission for coordinating its activities with Republican candidates for office in 1990 1992 and 1994 and failing to report its expenditures 45 yet the complaint was dismissed by a federal judge In March 1986 he told Israeli Foreign Affairs that South Africa was a major contributor to the Reagan administration s efforts to help the anti Sandinista forces 46 In 1994 the Coalition was fined for improperly aiding then Representative Newt Gingrich R GA and Oliver North who was then the Republican Senate nominee in Virginia 47 Robertson was a governing member of the Council 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 48 On November 7 2007 Robertson announced that he was endorsing Rudy Giuliani to be the Republican nominee in the 2008 Presidential election 49 Some social conservatives criticized Robertson s endorsement of Giuliani a pro choice candidate who supported gay rights 50 While usually associated with the political right Robertson endorsed environmental causes He appeared in a commercial with Al Sharpton joking about this and urging people to join the We Can Solve It campaign against global warming 51 In January 2009 on a broadcast of The 700 Club Robertson stated that he was adamantly opposed to the division of Jerusalem between Israel and the Palestinians He also stated that Armageddon was not going to be fought at Megiddo 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 the Messiah will come down to the part of Jerusalem that the Arabs want and this would be not good 52 Robertson repeatedly called for the legalization of cannabis saying that it should be treated in a manner analogous to the regulation of alcoholic beverages and tobacco 53 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 54 In 2014 he turned against the legalization of cannabis 55 1988 presidential bid See also 1988 Republican Party presidential primaries nbsp Robertson speaking at the Florida Economics Club in 1986 nbsp Bumper sticker from Robertson s campaignIn September 1986 Robertson announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for President 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 56 In 1987 he left the Southern Baptist Convention to run 57 58 Robertson ran on a standard conservative platform and as a candidate he embraced the same policies as Ronald Reagan lower taxes a balanced budget and a strong defense 59 Robertson s campaign achieved a strong second place finish in the Iowa caucuses ahead of Bush 60 61 He did poorly in the subsequent New 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 in Washington winning the majority of caucus delegates 62 63 Personal lifeMarriage and family In 1954 Robertson married Adelia Dede Elmer 64 a fashion model and beauty queen in the Miss Ohio State contest who was studying for her masters in nursing at Yale University She had also been a nursing student at Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio 64 They remained married until her death in 2022 and had four children among them Gordon P Robertson 65 Illness and death On August 11 2017 Robertson was hospitalized after sustaining minor injuries in a fall from a horseback riding incident 66 67 On February 2 2018 Robertson suffered an embolic 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 drug tPA 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 the paramedics and medical staff for their extraordinary care and rapid response They also urged people to learn about stroke its symptoms and treatments 68 Robertson resumed his hosting duties on The 700 Club on February 12 69 In June 2019 Robertson was absent from The 700 Club for several days after he broke three ribs in a fall Upon his return 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 70 On June 8 2023 Robertson died at his home in Virginia Beach Virginia at the age of 93 71 72 ControversiesMain article Pat Robertson controversies As a commentator and minister Robertson s statements frequently generated controversy 73 Robertson s service as a minister included the belief in the healing power of God 74 He cautioned believers that some Protestant denominations may harbor the spirit of the Antichrist 75 prayed to deflect hurricanes 76 denounced Hinduism as demonic 77 and Islam as Satanic 78 Robertson denounced left wing views of feminism 79 activism regarding homosexuality 80 abortion 81 and liberal college professors 82 Critics claim Robertson had business dealings in Africa with former president of Liberia and convicted war criminal Charles Taylor 83 and former Zaire president Mobutu Sese Seko 35 both of whom had been globally denounced for claims of human rights violations Robertson was criticized worldwide for his call for Hugo Chavez s assassination 35 and for his remarks concerning Ariel Sharon s ill health as an act of God 84 During the week of September 11 2001 Robertson interviewed Jerry Falwell who expressed his own opinion that the ACLU has to take a lot of blame for this in addition to the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who have helped the terror attacks of September 11th happen Robertson replied I totally concur 85 Both evangelists were seriously criticized by President George W Bush for their comments 86 for which Falwell later issued an apology 87 Less than two weeks after Hurricane Katrina killed 1 836 people Robertson implied on the September 12 2005 broadcast of The 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 88 In 2009 Robertson said that Islam 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 the communist party members of some fascist group 89 Robertson s response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake also sparked worldwide condemnation 90 91 Robertson claimed that Haiti s founders had sworn a pact to the Devil in order to liberate themselves from the French slave owners and indirectly attributed the earthquake to the consequences of the Haitian people being cursed for doing so 92 93 CBN later issued a statement saying that Robertson s comments were based on the widely discussed 1791 slave rebellion led by Dutty Boukman at Bois Caiman where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French 94 95 Various figures in mainline and evangelical 96 Christianity have on occasion disavowed some of Robertson s remarks 90 97 In March 2015 Robertson compared Buddhism to a disease on The 700 Club 98 The American 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 on mindfulness 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 99 PublicationsRobertson s book The New World Order 1991 became a New York Times best seller A review by Ephraim Radner an Episcopalian professor of theology stated In his published writings especially his 1991 book The New World Order Pat Robertson has propagated theories about a worldwide Jewish conspiracy Michael Land raised the issue in February in The New York Times Book Review and in April Jacob Heilbrun writing in The New York Review of Books cited chapter and verse of Robertson s borrowings from well known anti Semitic works 100 In October 2003 Robertson was interviewed by author Joel Mowbray about his book Dangerous Diplomacy a book critical of the United States Department of State Robertson said that Americans could change American diplomacy by ridding America of a large part of the State Department 101 Shout It from the Housetops an autobiography with Jamie Buckingham 1972 repr 1995 ISBN 978 0912106304 My Prayer for You 1977 ISBN 978 0800752644 The Secret Kingdom 1982 ISBN 978 0840752727 Answers to 200 of Life s Most Probing Questions 1984 ISBN 0 8407 5465 5 Beyond Reason How Miracles can Change your Life 1985 ISBN 0 688 02214 6 America s Dates with Destiny 1986 ISBN 0 8407 7756 6 The Plan 1989 ISBN 0 8407 7227 0 The New Millennium 1990 ISBN 978 0849908378 The New World Order 1991 ISBN 0 8499 0915 5 Turning Tide The Fall of Liberalism and the Rise of Common Sense 1993 ISBN 978 0 8499 0972 6 The End of the Age 1995 fiction ISBN 0 8499 1290 3 Six Steps to Spiritual Revival God s Awesome Power in Your Life 2002 ISBN 978 1 59052 055 0 Bring It on Tough Questions Candid Answers Nashville Tenn W Pub Group 2003 ISBN 978 0 8499 1801 8 The Ten Offenses 2004 ISBN 978 0849918018 Courting Disaster 2004 ISBN 1 59145 142 6 Miracles Can Be Yours Today 2006 ISBN 1 59145 423 9 On Humility 2009 ISBN 978 0312376383 Right on the Money Financial Advice for Tough Times 2009 ISBN 978 0446549585 I Have Walked With the Living God 2020 ISBN 978 1 6299 9873 2 The Power of the Holy Spirit in You Understanding the Miraculous Power of God 2022 ISBN 978 1 6845 1251 5 The Shepherd King The Life of David 2023 ISBN 978 0998615707See also nbsp Conservatism portal nbsp Christianity portal nbsp Evangelical Christianity portal nbsp Television portal nbsp United States portalChristian fundamentalism Christian right Christian Zionism Islamophobia in the United States Moral Majority Religious intoleranceReferences a b c d Official biography Archived from the original on January 25 2021 Retrieved March 31 2007 About Us Christian Coalition of America Archived from the original on March 8 2007 Retrieved March 31 2007 US televangelist Pat Robertson says God is not a Republican during TV interview Ecumenical News October 19 2021 Archived from the original on December 10 2021 Retrieved December 10 2021 Hindson Edward E Mitchell Daniel R August 1 2013 The Popular Encyclopedia of Church History The People Places and Events That Shaped Christianity Harvest House p 289 ISBN 978 0736948067 Sherrard Brooke 2007 Review of David John Marley Pat Robertson An American Life The Journal of Southern Religion Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved November 17 2014 The New York Times Pat Robertson A Candidate of Contradictions Archived January 27 2017 at the Wayback Machine February 27 1988 a b c David John Marley Pat Robertson An American Life ISBN 978 0 7425 5295 1 M G Pat Robertson Regent University Archived from the original on September 3 2019 Retrieved December 16 2019 Jeffers H Paul 2007 The Freemasons in America Inside the Secret Society New York City Kensington Publishing Corp ISBN 978 0806533636 Education Archived April 3 2005 at the Wayback Machine The Official Site of Pat Robertson Pat Robertson Christian evangelist and former presidential candidate dead at 93 ABC News Military Service The Official Site of Pat Robertson via Internet Archive Evangelist sues over combat story The Globe and Mail Toronto Ont October 23 1986 p A 16 Robertson s Libel Suit by Judge Ex Congressman Ruled the Legal Victor Philadelphia Daily News March 7 1988 p 14 Robertson Allowed to Drop Libel Suit if Court Costs Paid at The Washington Post retrieved May 24 2022 Spiritual Journey Archived January 10 2006 at the Wayback Machine The Official Site of Pat Robertson Pat Robertson s Noble Cause Archived March 1 2022 at the Wayback Machine at The Washington Post by Michael Barone published June 3 1986 retrieved May 4 2022 Wayne King Robertson s Ex Church Uncertain on Candidacy nytimes com USA October 12 1987 Evangelicals amp Catholics Together The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium Various May 1994 Archived from the original on April 7 2023 Retrieved June 8 2023 US televangelist Pat Robertson says God is not a Republican during TV interview Ecumenical News October 19 2021 Archived from the original on December 10 2021 Retrieved December 10 2021 a b Benn Rakeisha June 8 2023 He served God and his generation Regent University Mourns the Loss of Founder Chancellor amp CEO Dr M G Pat Robertson Regent University Archived January 14 2023 at the Wayback Machine at U S News amp World Report retrieved May 4 2022 Goldberg Michelle 2006 Kingdom Coming The Rise of Christian Nationalism 1st ed W W Norton Marlow Stern Mission Congo Alleges Pat Robertson Exploited Post Genocide Rwandans For Diamonds Archived November 12 2013 at the Wayback Machine Daily Beast September 7 2013 Response from Pat Robertson s Attorney Archived May 25 2022 at the Wayback Machine at The Virginia Quarterly Review published April 15 2008 retrieved May 25 2022 David John Marley Pat Robertson An American Life Rowman amp Littlefield 2007 p 190 America s Top 100 Charities Archived August 20 2022 at the Wayback Machine at Forbes by William P Barrett published December 16 2021 retrieved August 20 2022 Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson dies aged 93 News 3 WTKR Norfolk June 8 2023 a b Why The 700 Club Is the Show That Won t Die and Can t Be Killed Lamag Culture Food Fashion News amp Los Angeles Pat Robertson broadcaster who helped make religion central to GOP politics dies at 93 AP NEWS June 8 2023 The Company File Bank drops evangelist BBC News June 5 1999 Archived from the original on September 25 2008 Retrieved July 26 2009 Braid Mary June 3 1999 Gay jibe may lead to bank boycott The Independent London Archived from the original on May 25 2022 Retrieved February 1 2010 Palast investigates Pat Robertson Sullivan county com Archived from the original on December 31 2006 Retrieved July 26 2009 Sizemore Bill Robertson Liberian Leader Hope to Strike Gold in Coastal Africa The Virginian Pilot June 2 1999 a b c Blumenthal Max September 7 2005 Pat Robertson s Katrina Cash The Nation Online Archived from the original on May 25 2020 Retrieved March 5 2020 Charles Taylor Pat Robertson was my man in Washington Turtle Bay Turtlebay foreignpolicy com Archived from the original on February 8 2010 Retrieved August 6 2010 Anna Schecter February 4 2010 Prosecutor Pat Robertson Had Gold Deal with African Dictator Prosecutors in Human Rights Trial Allege Pat Robertson Lobbied George Bush on Behalf of Liberian Warlord Charles Taylor ABC News Archived from the original on November 1 2020 Retrieved June 28 2020 Washington City Paper December 14 2001 article titled Horseman of the Apocalypse Archived July 30 2018 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 30 2018 Tappat s pedigree sales record and racing statistics at Equibase Archived July 30 2018 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 30 2018 Mr Pat s pedigree sales record and racing statistics at Equibase Archived July 31 2018 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 30 2018 Complete list of Triple Crown nominees Thoroughbred Times February 10 2002 Archived from the original on June 10 2011 Retrieved July 26 2009 Mr Pat Horse Pedigree Pedigreequery com April 30 2007 Archived from the original on June 15 2011 Retrieved January 15 2010 Host bio Pat Robertson Archived November 14 2012 at the Wayback Machine CBN We ve Come a Long Way Baby in Race Relations March 16 2008 demo openlogicsys com Archived from the original on December 28 2012 Retrieved June 6 2012 In Closed Door Session with Christian Coalition State Leaders Pat Robertson Unveils Plan to Control GOP Presidential Nomination Archived January 12 2006 at the Wayback Machine September 18 1997 Americans United for Separation of Church and State Marshall Jonathan Scott Peter Dale and Hunter Jane The Iran Contra Connection Black Rose Books Montreal amp New York 1987 Christian Coalition wins on voter guides allowed to distribute guides but can not support candidates Rns Christian Century August 11 1999 See also Barbara A Simon Esq CNP s radical agenda Archived October 2 2006 at the Wayback Machine Institute for First Amendment Studies Inc which makes several mentions of Robertson s role in CNP Cooper Michael and David D Kirkpatrick November 7 2007 Pat Robertson Endorses Giuliani for President The New York Times Archived from the original on September 26 2018 Retrieved August 25 2018 Pat Robertson s Giuliani Endorsement Draws Mixed Reactions www christianpost com November 8 2007 Archived from the original on February 5 2020 Retrieved February 5 2020 We Can Solve It Unlikely Alliance Signup wecansolveit org 2008 Archived from the original on December 11 2008 Robertson sees Armageddon in Jerusalem struggle Archived June 3 2012 at the Wayback Machine by Eric Fingerhut Jewish Telegraphic Agency JTA February 3 2009 McKinley Jesse March 7 2012 Pat Robertson Says Marijuana Use Should be Legal New York Times Archived from the original on February 1 2017 Retrieved February 11 2017 Pat Robertson speaks out for marijuana legalization CNN March 8 2012 Archived from the original on March 11 2012 Retrieved March 9 2012 Somain Ilya August 13 2014 Pat Robertson turns against marijuana legalization The Washington Post Archived from the original on August 14 2014 Retrieved August 13 2014 Carlson Michael June 8 2023 Pat Robertson obituary The Guardian CNN Pat Robertson Fast Facts cnn com USA March 12 2017 William H Swatos Peter Kivisto Encyclopedia of Religion and Society Rowman Altamira USA 1998 p 243 King Wayne Special To the New York Times October 25 1987 Robertson Asserts He d Purge Bureaucracy of All but Conservatives The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on July 20 2021 Retrieved July 20 2021 Times E J Dionne Jr and Special To the New York February 9 1988 Dole Wins in Iowa With Robertson Next The New York Times Archived from the original on February 13 2018 Retrieved June 6 2018 About the caucuses Meaningful test Archived December 15 2005 at the Wayback Machine Johan Bergenas Iowa Presidential Politics com Primary versus caucus fight rolls on among state politicians Niki Sullivan Tacoma News Tribune Bush routs Dole in primaries Michale Oreskes New York Times a b Dede Robertson Her Life Her Loves Her Legacy CBN com 2010 Archived from the original on March 26 2017 Retrieved April 17 2017 Dede Robertson wife of televangelist Pat Robertson dead at 94 CNN 2022 Archived from the original on April 20 2022 Retrieved April 20 2022 CBN Founder Pat Robertson Suffers Minor Injuries in Horseback Riding Accident August 11 2017 Archived from the original on August 2 2018 Retrieved August 2 2018 David Caplan August 12 2017 Pat Robertson hospitalized after falling from horse ABC News Archived from the original on August 12 2017 Retrieved August 13 2017 Pat Robertson To Make Full Recovery After Embolic Stroke February 3 2018 Archived from the original on August 2 2018 Retrieved August 2 2018 Pat Robertson Returns to The 700 Club Just 10 Days After Stroke February 12 2018 Archived from the original on August 2 2018 Retrieved August 2 2018 The 700 Club June 5 2019 CBN com The Christian Broadcasting Network May 31 2019 Archived from the original on July 4 2019 Retrieved July 4 2019 Honoring Pat Robertson 1930 2023 Witness to a God Sized World Changing Dream at CBN com published June 8 2023 retrieved June 8 2023 Pat Robertson dies at 93 founded Christian Broadcasting Network Christian Coalition at The Washington Post by Ben Finley published June 8 2023 retrieved June 8 2023 McCammon Sarah June 8 2023 Pat Robertson televangelist and a leader of the religious right dies at 93 NPR Randi James 1989 The Faith Healers Prometheus Books ISBN 0 87975 535 0 pp 197 206 I don t have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist Right wing TV evangelist and former Presidential candidate Pat Robertson is the man Bank of Scotland has chosen to spearhead its US subsidiary Why by Greg Palast Guardian Unlimited May 23 1999 Robertson Says Prayer Stalled Storm Daily Press August 18 1995 Archived from the original on March 22 2014 Retrieved June 9 2023 Valli Guruswamy Julie Rajan July 1 1995 Using TV Christian Pat Robertson Denounces Hinduism as Demonic Hinduism Today Archived from the original on January 17 2010 Retrieved February 5 2020 Barisic Sonja for Associated Press March 14 2006 Robertson says Islam isn t a faith of peace Televangelist calls radicals demonic Boston com The Boston Globe Retrieved June 9 2023 Maralee Schwartz and Kenneth J Cooper August 23 1992 Equal Rights Initiative in Iowa Attacked The Washington Post Combs Roberta September 9 2005 California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Keeps Promise and Will Veto Abominable Homosexual Marriage Bill Passed By Legislature Which Ignored Overwhelming Vote of California Voters in Proposition 22 Banning Homosexual Marriage Christian Coalition Archived from the original on February 3 2007 Retrieved March 31 2007 Abortion to Die by 1 000 Cuts After Today s Supreme Court Ruling Christian Coalition 2007 01 18 Christian Coalition of America Archived from the original on October 12 2007 Retrieved August 12 2014 Retrieved 2007 03 31 Right Wing Watch May 11 2006 People for the American Way Charles Taylor war crimes convictions upheld BBC News September 26 2013 Archived from the original on September 20 2020 Retrieved October 19 2020 Robertson suggests God smote Sharon Evangelist links Israeli leader s stroke to dividing God s land Archived April 28 2006 at the Wayback Machine January 6 2006 CNN Falwell speaks about WTC disaster Christian Broadcasting Network Archived from the original mp3 on October 19 2012 Retrieved March 11 2012 David John Marley Pat Robertson an American life 2007 p 273 Falwell apologizes to gays feminists lesbians CNN October 14 2009 Archived from the original on April 12 2021 Retrieved September 7 2010 First Read NBC Robertson on Haiti Pact to the devil Archived August 11 2013 at the Wayback Machine January 13 2010 Hamby Peter November 18 2009 McDonnell won t disavow Robertson s Islam remarks CNN Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 7 2010 a b Urban Legend Expert Debunks Haitian Pact with the Devil Urban Legend Expert Debunks Haitian Pact with the Devil Archived from the original on January 21 2010 Retrieved September 5 2013 Lauerman Kerry January 13 2010 Robertson Haiti had pact with devil Salon Archived from the original on June 4 2011 Retrieved March 11 2012 Televangelist Pat Robertson Says Earthquake Result Of Cursed Haiti s Satanic Pact Archived from the original on January 17 2010 US evangelist says quake hit Haiti made devil pact France 24 January 13 2010 Archived from the original on January 16 2010 Statement Regarding Pat Robertson s Comments on Haiti Cbn com Archived from the original on January 17 2010 Retrieved January 15 2010 Thylefors Markel March 2009 Our Government is in Bwa Kayiman a Vodou Ceremony in 1791 and its Contemporary Signifcations Archived July 22 2012 at the Wayback Machine Stockholm Review of Latin American Studies Issue No 4 Pat Robertson on Disasters Consistently Wrong Archived January 18 2010 at the Wayback Machine Thursday January 14 2010 1 01 pm by John Mark Reynolds In Good Faith Guest post A message for Pat Robertson A blog for news and discussion on matters of faith Weblogs baltimoresun com May 17 2009 Archived from the original on May 31 2013 Retrieved January 15 2010 Smith Samuel March 11 2015 Pat Robertson Urges Christian Woman to Quit Her Job So She Doesn t Get Infected by Buddhist Co Workers The Christian Post Archived from the original on January 23 2019 Retrieved January 22 2019 Littlefair Sam December 19 2018 Conservative Christian group launches campaign against Buddhist meditation in public schools Lion s Roar Archived from the original on February 3 2019 Retrieved January 22 2019 Ephraim Radner New world order old world anti Semitism Pat Robertson of the Christian Coalition Christian Century September 13 1995 Retrieved December 11 2006 State Dept Decries Robertson Nuke Quote Associated Press October 12 2003 Archived from the original on May 14 2019 Retrieved May 14 2019 Further readingBoston Robert 1996 The Most Dangerous Man in America Pat Robertson and the Rise of the Christian Coalition Amherst NY Prometheus Books ISBN 978 1 57392 053 7 Harrell David Edwin Jr 2010 Pat Robertson A Life and Legacy Grand Rapids Mich William B Eerdmans Pub ISBN 978 0 8028 6384 3 Marley David John Pat Robertson An American LifeExternal links nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pat Robertson nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Pat Robertson Official website nbsp Appearances on C SPAN Archive of American Television interview with Pat Robertson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pat Robertson amp oldid 1204921641, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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