Pat Robertson, the renowned televangelist who played a pivotal role in mobilizing Christian conservatives within U.S. politics, has died at his Virginia residence at the age of 93, as announced by the Christian Broadcasting Network on Thursday. Robertson, who established the network in 1960, served as the host of the long-standing program “The 700 Club” for several decades, where he offered prayers and political commentary. The show played a significant part in rallying support among Christian conservatives for Ronald Reagan’s successful presidential campaign in 1980.
Despite an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1988, Robertson achieved a noteworthy second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses by effectively appealing to the state’s substantial evangelical population. This strategy has since become a standard practice for Republican presidential contenders in the Midwestern state. Following his White House endeavour, Robertson founded the Christian Coalition, a grassroots organization that proved to be a powerful mobilizer for conservative religious voters and became a core constituency for the Republican Party.
While “The 700 Club” enjoyed a devoted viewership, stemming from a fundraising telethon where Robertson appealed to 700 individuals to make monthly contributions, he also faced criticism for controversial statements made over the years. Robertson earned his law degree from Yale Law School, where he met his late wife, Dede, and later obtained a master’s degree from New York Theological Seminary. Dede passed away in 2022 after nearly seven decades of marriage.
In addition to the Christian Broadcasting Network, which eventually reached audiences globally, Robertson founded Regent University, a religious institution based in Virginia. He also established the American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian legal advocacy group, and Operation Blessing, an international charity. Robertson leaves behind four children, including his son Gordon, who currently serves as the network’s president and has been hosting “The 700 Club” since his father’s departure from the show in 2021.
