How a Yale-educated Marine became the architect of American conservative evangelical media and politics.
In short: Pat Robertson transformed from a law school graduate into a media mogul who reshaped the American right. By founding the Christian Broadcasting Network and the Christian Coalition, he bridged the gap between charismatic theology and national political strategy, leaving a legacy defined by both immense influence and persistent, headline-grabbing controversy.
Born into a prominent political family in 1930, Pat Robertson’s early life followed a conventional path of elite achievement. After serving as a Marine in the Korean War, where he earned three Battle Stars, he graduated from Yale Law School in 1955. However, a religious conversion steered him away from a legal career toward the ministry. In 1960, he launched the country’s first Christian television station in Portsmouth, Virginia, which evolved into the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).
The centerpiece of his media empire was The 700 Club, a talk show that became a staple of religious broadcasting for over six decades. Robertson’s influence extended beyond the screen when he founded the Christian Coalition in 1989, an organization that mobilized conservative voters and shifted the Republican Party’s platform. His own 1988 presidential bid, though unsuccessful, signaled the rising power of the religious right in national elections.
Robertson’s career was marked by a pattern of incendiary remarks that frequently drew public condemnation. Following the September 11 attacks, he suggested the tragedy resulted from the actions of groups like feminists and the ACLU. Similarly, his 2010 claim that the Haiti earthquake was divine retribution for a historical pact with the Devil sparked widespread outrage. These moments underscored the polarizing nature of his public persona, which blended traditional evangelical values with provocative, often conspiratorial, commentary.
By the time he stepped down as CEO of CBN in 2007 and eventually retired from hosting The 700 Club in 2021, Robertson had fundamentally altered the landscape of American political discourse. His ability to build institutions—from Regent University to the Christian Coalition—ensured that his ideological imprint would persist long after his death in 2023. He remains a singular figure who successfully merged the pulpit with the political arena.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Pat Robertson | Biography, Presidential Campaign 1988, & Facts | Britannica
- Also: Pat Robertson
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