Republicans and Evangelicals | Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker/ What Happened to the Gang (part 1)

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Pat Robertson’s bid for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination (often discussed in 1989 contexts because of its aftermath) marked a notable moment in American politics, as a prominent televangelist moved out of religious broadcasting and directly into the national political arena. After building a large following through his Christian Broadcasting Network and The 700 Club, Robertson formally entered the Republican primary race in late 1987, having first set an unusual condition for his candidacy: he would run only if three million Americans pledged support through petitions to pray, work and contribute to his campaign—an effort that succeeded and gave him a built-in grassroots base. His platform blended standard conservative Republican positions—such as lower taxes and strong defense—with a strong emphasis on social and moral issues informed by his evangelical Christian worldview.

During the 1988 primary season, Robertson surprised many political observers by finishing second in the Iowa caucuses, ahead of Vice President George H.W. Bush and indicating the mobilizing power of evangelical voters in early nominating contests. However, he struggled to maintain momentum as voting moved to later states: his support weakened in more diverse primary electorates, and he did not win a competitive share of delegates nationwide. Ultimately, Robertson suspended his campaign in 1988, later endorsing Bush, who went on to win the nomination and presidency. In the aftermath of his presidential run, Robertson organized the Christian Coalition in 1989, which became a significant force in mobilizing conservative Christian voters and shaping Republican politics in the 1990s and beyond.

His campaign was plagued by the public falls of other televangelists like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Our special guest for this episode is John Wigger.

Sources

• PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s Evangelical Empire by John Wigger
• Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy by David Edwin Harrell Jr.
• God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams
• "Clean Up Radio Everywhere" (Season 3, Episode 22) WKRP in Cincinnati
• Prime Time Preachers by Jeffrey K. Hadden and Charles E. Swann.
• Fager, C. (1982, May 05). Falwell and co.--on the skids... or speeding up? In these Times
• Interview with Frances Fitzgerald on the Gospel Coalition
• The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
• Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
• “CBN'S Pat Robertson: White House Next?” Saturday Evening Post, March 1985. by Cory SerVaas M D. and Maynard Good Stoddard.
• ABC News story on the Bakkers
• Interview with Falwell on the Bakker scandal

Discussion Questions

• A lot of evangelicals with large followings are super into entrepreneurship. Why is that? How does it change evangelicalism?
• Why would it be risky for Robertson to have extraction interests in poor countries?
• How did the public falls of televangelists impact Robertson?
• What is there to be learned from the Tim and Tammy Faye Bakker scandals?

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