Right-wing Evangelist In Presidential Race (Press, 3 October 1987)

On 3 October 1987, Pat Robertson, a television evangelist known for his conservative views and strong religious following, announced his candidacy for the Republican Presidential nomination in New York. He made his declaration in a Brooklyn slum where he had briefly lived during his youth, drawing mixed reactions from a crowd of supporters and protesters. While he was cheered by approximately 120 supporters who had come from across the country, he faced significant opposition from around 50 demonstrators, including homosexual activists and anti-fundamentalists, who shouted slogans against him. Robertson's speech, which was initially planned to be 18 pages long, was condensed to just 10 minutes due to the disturbances. The atmosphere was charged, with protesters yelling phrases like "Go home" and displaying signs with messages such as "Hitler in 1939, Robertson in 1987". The objections from demonstrators included concerns over his controversial remarks suggesting that the civil rights of homosexuals could be overlooked in efforts to combat the AIDs crisis. At 57 years old, Robertson emerged as an unpredictable candidate in the Republican race, gaining popularity amongst fundamentalist Christians. His campaign gained traction, having already polled ahead of established Republican frontrunner George Bush in several surveys. Party strategists remained unsure about the implications of his candidacy on the race to succeed Ronald Reagan. Robertson's choice of location for the announcement was significant; he revisited 33 Monroe Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, recalling his time there in 1961 before moving to Virginia, where he would later establish the successful Christian Broadcasting Company and his well-known show, The 700 Club. Despite anticipating a warm welcome, Robertson was met with protests that included various placards targeting him personally. He attempted to address the heckling by proclaiming, “I offer myself as a candidate who doesn’t mind taking risks.” His recent performance in local Republican votes had been impressive, particularly in Iowa, where he significantly outperformed both Bush and Senator Robert Dole in a recent poll. He also secured notable support in Michigan during earlier primary elections, indicating his potential influence on the party's direction heading into the 1988 Republican national convention.

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