Pat Robertson: A Personal, Religious, and Political Portrait

The son of a conservative senator from Virginia, Robertson was a playboy in his youth, then turned to religion, becoming a charismatic, an evangelical and a Southern Baptist. This biography by chairman of the history department at the University of Alabama, and author of Oral Roberts, concentrates on Robertson's religious quest and his theological positions. Those not attuned to religious studies will find a good deal of hair-splitting in these sections. As a campaign biography concerned with political views (less than a quarter of the book), Robertson is shown to oppose the ERA, abortion and homosexual rights and to favor regulation of television and motion pictures, prayer in the public schools and tuition tax credits for private, especially so-called Christian, schools. Finally, there is an objective assessment of the candidate's chances, concluding that, even if he is not nominated, he will be a power broker at the Republican convention. Photos not seen by PW. (February 28)