Pat Robertson, the legendary Christian broadcaster who played a significant role in making religion central to Republican Party politics, passed away at the age of 93. The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), which he established by transforming a local TV station in Virginia into a global network, announced his death. However, the cause of his death was not revealed in the announcement.

Born Marion Gordon “Pat” Robertson on March 22, 1930, in Lexington, Virginia, he was the son of Absalom Willis Robertson, a long-serving U.S. Representative and Senator, and Gladys Churchill Robertson. After graduating from Washington and Lee University, Pat Robertson served as an assistant adjutant of the 1st Marine Division in Korea. He went on to attend Yale University Law School, where he earned his law degree and met his future wife, Adelia “Dede” Elmer. Though he did not pass the bar exam and decided against pursuing a law career, he and Dede, who was a founding member of CBN, had a family of four children, fourteen grandchildren, and twenty-four great-grandchildren. Dede passed away a year before him, at the age of 94.

Robertson was widely known for his “700 Club” television show. In 1988, he ran for the U.S. presidency as a Republican. He developed a novel approach of appealing to Iowa’s evangelical churches, and this strategy helped him secure second place in the Iowa caucuses, ahead of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. Prior to deciding to run, Robertson also executed a unique tactic where he insisted on collecting signatures from 3 million followers across the U.S. According to Jeffrey K. Hadden, a sociologist and Robertson’s biographer, this approach garnered him a substantial support base.

Although he did not secure the Republican nomination, Robertson later endorsed George H.W. Bush, who went on to win the presidency. Importantly, his experience in the campaign led to the creation of the Christian Coalition, a political organization that was instrumental in solidifying the Republican Party’s lasting relationship with evangelical voters. This has since become a standard practice for Republican candidates.

In addition to his political endeavors, Robertson’s ventures included several institutions that had considerable impact. He founded Regent University, an evangelical Christian institution in Virginia Beach. He was also involved in establishing the American Center for Law and Justice, which is dedicated to defending the First Amendment rights of religious individuals. Furthermore, he set up Operation Blessing, an international humanitarian organization.

Pat Robertson resigned from the presidency of the Christian Coalition in 2001 to concentrate on ministerial work. Through his various endeavors, he made an indelible mark on American religious broadcasting and the intertwining of religion with political life, particularly within the Republican Party.