Pat Robertson Fast Facts

Here's a look at the life of televangelist Pat Robertson.

Personal: Birth date: March 22, 1930

Birth place: Lexington, Virginia

Birth name: Marion Gordon Robertson

Father: Absalom Willis Robertson, politician

Mother: Gladys Churchill (Willis) Robertson

Marriage: Adelia "Dede" (Elmer) Robertson (August 27, 1954 - present)

Children: Timothy, Elizabeth, Gordon, Ann

Education: Washington and Lee University, B.A., 1950; Yale University, J.D., 1955; New York Theological Seminary, M.Div., 1959

Military service: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1948 - 1952, First Lieutenant

Religion: Christian

Other Facts: Robertson's political platform included fiscal and moral conservatism.

Has a recipe for "age-defying" pancakes.

Timeline: January 11, 1960 - Founds the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).

1961 - Is ordained as a Southern Baptist minister.

October 1, 1961 - CBN goes on the air for the first time.

1966 - Creates "The 700 Club" television program.

1977 - Founds CBN University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is later renamed Regent University.

1987 - Resigns from the Southern Baptist Convention ministry to run for president.

May 16, 1988 - Drops out of the presidential race.

May 1992 - Makes a $6 million bid on news wire service United Press International. In June, Robertson retracts the accepted bid, citing economic issues.

September 13, 2001 - Releases a statement saying that America has been attacked "because God Almighty is lifting His protection from us."

January 5, 2006 - Says that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke is punishment for "dividing God's land."

November 30, 2007 - Turns over the management of CBN to his son, Gordon.

2008 - Appears in an advertisement, with Al Sharpton, for Al Gore's non-profit the Alliance for Climate Protection.

August 19, 2009 - Has successful heart surgery after suffering from atrial fibrillation.

November 2009 - Following the shootings at Fort Hood, Robertson comments on air that Islam is not a religion but a "violent political system."

September 13, 2011 - On "The 700 Club," Robertson tells viewers that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer's is acceptable as it is a "kind of death."

March 7, 2012 - During an interview with The New York Times, Robertson says marijuana should be legalized and receive the same treatment under the law as alcohol.