Pat Robertson : The Former Republican American Politician

Pat Robertson, born Marion Gordon Robertson on March 22, 1930, is an American media mogul, evangelist, and former Republican politician. He is best known as the founder and chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and as the host of the popular TV program "The 700 Club." Throughout his career, Robertson has been a prominent figure in the Christian conservative movement and has played a significant role in shaping American politics and religious discourse.

Robertson was born in Lexington, Virginia, to a prominent family. He attended Washington and Lee University, where he studied history and graduated magna cum laude. Following his university education, Robertson enrolled in Yale Law School, earning a law degree in 1955. After practicing law for a short period, he felt a strong calling to the ministry and pursued theological studies at the New York Theological Seminary, where he received a Master of Divinity degree.

In 1960, Robertson founded the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), which initially began as a small UHF television station in Virginia. Under his leadership, CBN grew into a major media empire, expanding its reach through satellite television and the internet. The flagship program of CBN, "The 700 Club," began airing in 1966 and became one of the longest-running and most-watched religious television programs in the United States.

Throughout his career, Robertson used the platform of CBN and "The 700 Club" to advocate for conservative Christian values and engage in political discourse. He emerged as a prominent figure in the Christian Right movement, championing socially conservative positions on issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and prayer in schools. He founded several organizations, including the Christian Coalition, aimed at mobilizing conservative Christians for political action.

In addition to his media ventures, Robertson also ventured into politics. In 1988, he ran for the Republican Party's nomination for President of the United States but was unsuccessful. Despite his presidential bid's failure, Robertson remained influential within the Republican Party and continued to use his platform to support conservative candidates and causes.

Robertson's influence extended beyond the United States. He established humanitarian organizations such as Operation Blessing International, which provided disaster relief and humanitarian aid worldwide. However, his philanthropic efforts were not without controversy. In the 1990s, Robertson faced criticism for his remarks suggesting that the devastating Hurricane Katrina was a result of God's judgment on sinful behavior.

Throughout his career, Pat Robertson has been a polarizing figure, admired by many conservative Christians for his unapologetic stance on moral issues and criticized by others for his controversial statements and views. Regardless of one's opinion, it is undeniable that Robertson has left an indelible mark on American politics, media, and religious discourse, shaping the conservative Christian movement and influencing the national conversation on social and moral issues.

Ater founding the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Robertson expanded its reach by launching the International Family Entertainment Inc. (IFE) in 1990. IFE produced family-friendly programming and launched the cable channel, The Family Channel (later known as ABC Family and now Freeform), which was eventually sold to Disney in 2001.

In addition to his media ventures, Robertson authored numerous books, including "The Secret Kingdom," "The New World Order," and "Miracles Can Be Yours Today." These books often focused on topics such as faith, spirituality, and conservative values.

Pat Robertson's political influence was not limited to his own presidential run. He actively supported conservative candidates and causes through organizations like the Christian Coalition, which aimed to mobilize Christian voters.

In the early 2000s, Robertson faced controversy when he made remarks suggesting that the United States should assassinate then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. These comments sparked significant backlash and drew criticism from both domestic and international sources.

Robertson has been involved in various philanthropic efforts throughout his career. Operation Blessing International, one of the organizations he founded, has provided disaster relief, medical aid, and other humanitarian assistance around the world.

As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Pat Robertson is still alive. However, it's important to note that this information might have changed since then.

In 1954, Robertson married Adelia "Dede" Elmer[55] 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.[55] They remained married until her death in 2022, and had four children, among them Gordon P. Robertson.

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

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. Robertson resumed his hosting duties on The 700 Club on February 12.

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.

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