Pat Robertson was a former Southern Baptist minister and political commentator who founded the Christian Broadcasting Network and hosted its flagship show, “The 700 Club,” since 1966.
- Died: June 8, 2023 (Who else died on June 8?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia at the age of 93.
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Pat Robertson’s legacy
The son of a three-term U.S. Senator and seven-term Congressman from Virginia, Robertson was awarded three Battle Stars during the Korean War before returning to the U.S. to earn his law degree from Yale University. Law was not to be his future, however. He transferred to The Biblical Seminary in New York, earning a Master of Divinity and setting him on a course that would soon influence millions.
Robertson formed the Christian Broadcasting Network in 1960. Based out of Virginia Beach, it began as nothing more than a small radio station, though it was also the starting place of “The 700 Club,” the long-running conservative Christian ministry show Robertson is widely known for. In 1977, he launched a cable television network – the first satellite-delivered, direct-to-cable network in the United States, reaching what were then regional cable systems across the nation. It proved to be a profitable venture, raking in millions and expanding Robertson’s visibility. His influence became so widespread, he decided to enter the world of politics.
Robertson unsuccessfully ran for president in 1988. Around the same time, he also formed the Christian Coalition, an advocacy group that quickly garnered political power. They created voter guides, lobbied for candidates, and helped organize an increasingly potent conservative religious movement in American politics, particularly among the Republican Party.
Throughout his career, Robertson advocated for polarizing political stances. Comments regarding issues like homosexuality (he said gay people purposely spread AIDS with spiked “handshake rings”), other religions (including other Christian denominations), the events of 9/11 (which he blamed on abortion, pornography, homosexuals, and feminists), the Hurricane Katrina tragedy (which he also connected to abortion), and more often drew widespread condemnation. Despite the backlash, he remained an influential figure, and “The 700 Club” continues to air to this day.
Notable quote
“Satan is a tool of God’s love in the sense that he forces us to see God’s loving patience.”— Answers to 200 of life’s most probing questions, 1984
Tributes to Pat Robertson
Full obituary: The New York Times
