Religious Figure, Politician, Television Personality. He was a conservative Christian evangelist as well as being as television personality. Born to a prominent political family in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia, he attended several exclusive preparatory schools before enrolling at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he graduated with high honors. At 18, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, eventually seeing service in the Korean War. Following his service, he attained a degree from Yale Law School, but failed to pass the New York State Bar exam. At this point, Robertson began his transformation into a Christian lifestyle and sought to become minister of the Gospel. Attending the New York Theological Seminary, he graduated with a Master's in Divinity Degree in 1959. Two years later, he was ordained a minister for the Southern Baptist Convention. A year before his ordination, he founded the Christian Broadcasting Network, utilizing older stations in southeastern Virginia. In the autumn of 1961, the channel transmitted its first broadcast to the country. The network would eventually garner great success, with several satellite-cable television programs such as "The 700 Club" and "Christian World News." In addition to his work with CBN, Robertson made his mark in the education field. As the founder of Christian Broadcast Network University, which was later Regent University in Virginia Beach, he helped provide higher education degrees in over 150 areas of study. In 1990, Robertson was instrumental in founding the American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian-based legal entity based in Washington, D.C. The organization was intended as a counterweight to the ACLU, with a mission to protect religious and constitutional freedoms while espousing conservative Christian ideals in the courtroom. Robertson devoted his life to other organizations including the Operation Blessing International non-profit and the Flying Hospital. The former implemented disaster relief and medical supply missions to impacted areas of the United States and countless other countries around the globe. The latter saw the conversion of an aircraft into a mobile flying hospital used to provide aid in civil emergencies. A political activist, Robertson founded the Christian Coalition, a nationwide organization designed to campaign for conservative politicians. Not content to only observe the county's political landscape, he was also an active participant in the waning days of President Reagan's second administration. In the autumn of 1987, he launched his short-lived bid for the presidency, running against Vice President George H.W. Bush. Though his campaign started with great momentum, it later stalled during the primaries, and he suspended the effort before the final primaries were decided. Addressing the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans, he cast his support behind the Vice President, who would later handily win the election over Michael Dukakis that November. Following his exit from politics, Robertson returned to CBN. Three years later, his book, "The New World Order," became a New York Times best seller. Though accidents and medical incidents marred his later years, he remained a vocal member of the Christian Broadcasting Network. At the time of his death, his holdings, according to "Forbes'" list, totaled $100 million.