The Evangelical Republican Senator of Oregon Who Defied Conservatives
Our season has spent a lot of time looking at how some evangelicals tied themselves to the GOP as the party became more conservative. But not every evangelical Republican was taken in by the conservative swing. In this episode, we’re taking a look at Senator Mark Hatfield, an evangelical Republican who didn’t follow the pack.
The remarkable career of Mark O Hatfield
Senator Mark Hatfield had a long and influential career in public service spanning nearly five decades. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and earning degrees from Willamette University and Stanford University, Hatfield began his political journey in the Oregon Legislature, winning election to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1950 and then to the Oregon State Senate in 1954. He went on to become Oregon’s youngest Secretary of State at age 34 and was elected Governor of Oregon in 1958, where he served two terms and oversaw the expansion of the state’s infrastructure and environmental programs. In 1966, Hatfield was elected to the U.S. Senate, beginning a 30-year tenure that made him the longest-serving senator in Oregon’s history at the time.
Mark Hatfield’s battle against the Vietnam War
In the Senate, Hatfield was known as a moderate Republican who often put conscience ahead of party, particularly on issues of war and defense spending. Deeply shaped by his wartime experiences and Christian faith, he consistently opposed military authorization bills, including votes against the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War, and co-sponsored efforts like a nuclear freeze resolution. Hatfield twice chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, using that position to direct federal funds to Oregon for health, transportation, and research projects, and to support biomedical research at institutions like the National Institutes of Health. His independent approach earned him respect across party lines, and although the GOP shifted rightward over time, he remained a distinctive figure in national politics until his retirement in 1997.
Sources:
IMDB and Amazon reviews of the movie Bringing up Bobby
Stand Alone or Go Home by Lon Fendall
Transcript of the Keynote Address by Gov. Hatfield at G.O.P. Convention,
NY Times, July 14, 1964 “CONVENTION ENDS; Extremism in Defense of Liberty ‘No Vice,’ Arizonan Asserts” New York Times, July 17, 1964
How the fall of Jimmy Swaggart shaped the presidential run of Pat Robertson
Jimmy Swaggart was caught in a major controversy in the late 1980s. It involved the famous American televangelist, who was a leading figure in Pentecostal Christianity. In 1988, Swaggart publicly admitted to “moral failure” after reports surfaced that he had been involved with a prostitute, behavior that directly contradicted the strict moral standards he preached. The revelation led to his suspension by the Assemblies of God, his church denomination, and caused significant damage to his reputation and ministry. Swaggart delivered a widely televised, tearful confession, which became one of the most memorable moments in religious broadcasting, symbolizing broader concerns at the time about hypocrisy, accountability, and power among high-profile televangelists.
When Pat Robertson’s run for president failed, he kept going
This proved to be a problem for Pat Robertson, who was running for president. Just as he needed his conservative brothers and sisters on his side… they disappeared or chose another politician.
When he lost the race, he continued his streak of being shelved by politicians. He and other evangelicals with large followings placed their hope in politicians to save them. Only to find disappointment.
Sources:
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy by David Edwin Harrell Jr.
Andrews, T. M. (2017). The Rev. Marvin Gorman, who prompted Jimmy Swaggart’s downfall in the ’80s, dies at 83
Art Harris, W. P. (1988, Feb 26). Jimmy Swaggart’s secret life in the world of no-tell motels ‘shouting, weeping’ Preacher was just another man on prowl. Toronto Star
RNC National Convention speeches 1988, around 2:35:00
God’s Own Party by Daniel K Williams
PETER STEINFELS (1989, Jun 12). Moral majority to dissolve; says mission accomplished. New York Times
Rolling Stone Magazine article on Jay Sekulow. By Andrew Perez, January 3, 2024
Pat Robertson’s bid for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination (often discussed in 1989 contexts because of its aftermath) marked a notable moment in American politics, as a prominent televangelist moved out of religious broadcasting and directly into the national political arena. After building a large following through his Christian Broadcasting Network and The 700 Club, Robertson formally entered the Republican primary race in late 1987, having first set an unusual condition for his candidacy: he would run only if three million Americans pledged support through petitions to pray, work and contribute to his campaign—an effort that succeeded and gave him a built-in grassroots base. His platform blended standard conservative Republican positions—such as lower taxes and strong defense—with a strong emphasis on social and moral issues informed by his evangelical Christian worldview.
During the 1988 primary season, Robertson surprised many political observers by finishing second in the Iowa caucuses, ahead of Vice President George H.W. Bush and indicating the mobilizing power of evangelical voters in early nominating contests. However, he struggled to maintain momentum as voting moved to later states: his support weakened in more diverse primary electorates, and he did not win a competitive share of delegates nationwide. Ultimately, Robertson suspended his campaign in 1988, later endorsing Bush, who went on to win the nomination and presidency. In the aftermath of his presidential run, Robertson organized the Christian Coalition in 1989, which became a significant force in mobilizing conservative Christian voters and shaping Republican politics in the 1990s and beyond.
The Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker
His campaign was plagued by the public falls of other televangelists like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Our special guest for this episode is John Wigger.
Sources
PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s Evangelical Empire by John Wigger
Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy by David Edwin Harrell Jr.
God’s Own Party by Daniel K Williams
“Clean Up Radio Everywhere” (Season 3, Episode 22) WKRP in Cincinnati
Prime Time Preachers by Jeffrey K. Hadden and Charles E. Swann.
Fager, C. (1982, May 05). Falwell and co.–on the skids… or speeding up? In these Times
Interview with Frances Fitzgerald on the Gospel Coalition
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
“CBN’S Pat Robertson: White House Next?” Saturday Evening Post, March 1985. by Cory SerVaas M D. and Maynard Good Stoddard.
The Iran-Contra affair that troubled the Reagan presidency
The Iran-Contra Affair was a major political scandal in the United States during the second term of President Ronald Reagan in the mid-1980s. At its core, the affair involved the secret sale of arms to Iran—despite an arms embargo—in the hopes of securing the release of American hostages held by Hezbollah in Lebanon. These sales were initiated covertly by members of the U.S. government, who believed they could foster better relations with moderate elements in Iran while also achieving humanitarian aims. The operation violated official U.S. policy and Congressional restrictions, particularly the Boland Amendment, which explicitly prohibited aid to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
Money from Iran arms sales was funnelled to the Nicaraguan contras
The second part of the scandal involved diverting profits from the Iranian arms sales to fund the Contras, a right-wing rebel group fighting the leftist Sandinista government in Nicaragua. The Reagan administration had viewed the Contras as essential to stopping the spread of communism in Central America. However, Congress had explicitly forbidden further military aid to the Contras, making the diversion of funds both illegal and secretive. Key figures in the affair included Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North of the National Security Council, who helped coordinate the operation, as well as senior officials like National Security Advisor John Poindexter.
When the operation was exposed in 1986, it triggered a political firestorm and led to multiple investigations by Congress and an independent counsel. While President Reagan claimed he had no knowledge of the diversion of funds, the scandal significantly damaged his administration’s credibility. Several officials were convicted of crimes related to the affair, though many were later pardoned by President George H. W. Bush. The Iran-Contra Affair remains a powerful example of executive overreach and the risks of conducting foreign policy outside the bounds of democratic oversight.
Sources:
Nixonland by Rick Perlstein
Vietnam Ken Burns documentary, especially episodes 2 and 7
Los Angeles Times article “Religious Right Drums Up Support for North” September 3, 1988
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
Shadow Network by Anne Nelson
Battiata, M. (1987, Sep 26). “Beverly LaHaye and the hymn of the right; leading her women in support of Reagan, bork, and SDI: The Washington Post (Pre-1997 Fulltext)”
A bunch of evangelicals like Tim LaHaye, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Falwell pushed many in the evangelical movement to support Ronald Reagan for president. The New Right tied them to the Republican Party. But… what did they get for their efforts?
In this mini-episode, Chris lays out some of the few things they got. And some of the things that Reagan did that upset these evangelicals with large followings.
Evangelical opposition to Sandra Day O’Connor
One thing they didn’t like was the appointment of Sandra Day O’Connor as the first female Supreme Court judge. But Reagan did dedicate a day of prayer and offered an amendment to protect prayer in schools (though it was never going to pass).
It’s possible that what Reagan really left these evangelicals with large followings was not legislation, but permission to use deeply flawed individuals to achieve their goals.
Sources:
God’s Own Party by Daniel K Williams
The Invisible Bridge, Nixonland, and Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
