Returns to Where Ministry Began : Robertson Opens ’88 Bid Amid Jeering Protesters

Shouting over the chants of angry protesters, former television evangelist Pat Robertson launched his crusade for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday with what was billed as a sympathetic journey home to the largely black Brooklyn neighborhood where he began his ministry 28 years ago.

But the symbolism and his call for a “government for all people” were nearly lost amid the rancor of the crowd. Three times, jeers from protesters drew barbed criticism from Robertson, who ultimately dispensed with more than three-quarters of his prepared text.

“Some of the folks behind me may respect hopelessness,” he told the crowd, a tight smile frozen on his face as he gestured to some protesters. “They don’t understand what opportunity could be in this country if we all worked together.”

About 30 New York City police officers and additional plainclothes agents hired by the Robertson campaign watched as Robertson supporters and protesters chanted, each thrusting hand-drawn signs into the air, but there was no violence or any arrests.

Police Capt. Charles Beehn placed the number of protesters at 100, compared to a total of 500 curious residents, Robertson supporters and reporters.

Later, at a brief press conference preceding a campaign rally in Manchester, N. H., Robertson described the protesters as a “well-organized gay-lesbian group.”

“I’m not going to give the streets of America over to 50 radicals,” he retorted.

The vocal protesters said they were members of the nonpartisan group People for the American Way, the National Organization for Women, an AIDS action group called ACT-UP and an anti-Robertson coalition called Moral Resistance. They were protesting his earlier suggestion that AIDS patients might have to be quarantined, his anti-abortion stance and his conservative views on family values.

Message to Poor

Robertson’s appearance in front of the Bedford-Stuyvesant area brownstone--where he lived for 2 1/2 months in 1959, when he took his first preaching job at a church down the block--was meant to convey his sympathy for the poor and minorities.

But his announcement began inauspiciously: His two introductory speakers, including Rosey Grier, former Los Angeles Rams player and Robertson backer, referred to him as “Robinson.”

And many of the neighbors Robertson sought to verbally embrace turned a cold shoulder, declaring themselves irked at the political nature of his visit.

The brownstone speech kicked off a three-day announcement tour that took Robertson and his entourage to Manchester, later in the day for a rally before nearly 1,000 faithful. On Saturday and Sunday, the campaign was to fly to Iowa--along with New Hampshire the site of two critical early tests for Robertson’s candidacy--as well as Virginia, South Carolina and Texas.

Thursday’s announcement, campaign officials said, was timed to occur on the 27th anniversary of his founding of the Christian Broadcasting Network, the video evangelizing empire whose “700 Club” propelled Robertson to national prominence and made possible his long-shot bid for the presidency.

In the face of widespread polls showing Americans’ distaste for the mixing of religion and politics, Robertson formally cut all ties with the organization on Thursday, after he made a farewell appearance on the “700 Club,” during which he asked God for wisdom.

Although he did not mention the network in his Bedford-Stuyvesant appearance--it was included in one of the sections dropped from his speech--Robertson did urge a return to the “fundamental moral values that made this country great.”

“I want an America where there’s hope for black people, where there’s hope for Hispanic people, where there’s hope for the women and hope for the children,” he said. “I don’t want any class of people to be left out of that vision I have for America.”

Family Key Concern

Although he did not describe his specific plans before the raucous crowd, Robertson said that the breakup of the American family and education were his chief concerns.

In the unspoken sections of his prepared text, he pushed for “a new moral commitment to family life . . . moral restraint and abstinence.” He said some teachers were “eroding traditional moral values” and suggested the abolition of the federal Department of Education in favor of returning authority to local communities. He also pressed for two favorites of the conservatives he is attempting to court--the balanced budget amendment and school prayer.

Likewise endorsing conservative ideals, he also, in his prepared speech, called for arming and supporting rebels in “the fringes of the Russian Empire”--Angola, Nicaragua, Mozambique and Afghanistan.

While some local residents listened appreciatively to Robertson’s message, most were critical of the 57-year-old Robertson’s appearance.

“Soon as he leaves, he’s going to forget,” said 24-year-old Tiffany Taylor, who has lived all her life on the block where Robertson spoke. “That man’s never been back (before Thursday).”

Campaign spokesman Scott Hatch said he did not know whether Robertson had visited his old home in the 28 years preceding his presidential announcement, but he did come to the Bedford-Stuyvesant area last summer.

Robertson announced his intention to enter the race last month, after collecting the signatures of 3 million supporters. Although given little chance of taking the nomination, he has clearly unnerved veteran political strategists with a string of victories, including organizing successes in Michigan and South Carolina and taking the lead in an Iowa straw poll last month.

He has raised $11 million and said Thursday that he does not currently plan to request federal funds. He would be eligible for $5 million in matching funds, but if he accepted the money, he would be forced to abide by federal spending limits.

He joins, in his Republican bid, announced candidates Rep. Jack Kemp, former Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. and former governor of Delaware Pierre (Pete) S. du Pont IV. Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole and Vice President George Bush are scheduled to announce their candidacies in coming weeks.

MARION GORDON (PAT) ROBERTSON

Born: March 22, 1930, Lexington, Va.

Parents: The late U.S. Sen. A. Willis Robertson and Gladys Churchill Robertson.

Education: Washington and Lee University, B. A., 1950. Yale Law School, J. D., 1955. New York Theological Seminary, master of divinity, 1959.

Military Career: U.S. Marine Corps, 1950-52.

Professional Career: Senate Appropriations Committee staff investigator, 1953. W. R. Grace management trainee, 1954-55. Chairman of local New York campaign committee for Democratic presidential aspirant Adlai E. Stevenson, 1956. Founder and president, Christian Broadcasting Network, 1960-present. Ordained to ministry, Southern Baptist Church, 1961.

Family: Wife, Adelia (Dede) Elmer; Two sons, two daughters.

Religion: Baptist.

Accomplishments: Led Christian Broadcasting Network to a $182-million-a-year conglomerate with audience of 29 million in 50 states. Authored several books.

Positions: Favors voluntary school prayer, opposes abortion, advocates scrapping federal aid to cities and replacing it with voluntary contributions from corporations and individuals who would receive income tax credits.

Strengths: Good communicator with huge, built-in communications vehicle. Commands allegiance of highly motivated, zealous followers.

Vulnerabilities: Faces taint from fallout over scandal involving television evangelist Jim Bakker. Must overcome fears among mainstream voters that he would seek to impose religious precepts on nation.