Editing Pat Robertson (section)

==Early life==
Marion Gordon Robertson was born on March 22, 1930,<ref name="officialbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.patrobertson.com/Biography/index.asp |title=Official biography |access-date=2007-03-31 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125121734/http://www.patrobertson.com/Biography/index.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> in [[Lexington, Virginia]], into a prominent political family, the younger of two sons. His parents were [[Absalom Willis Robertson]] (1887–1971), a [[conservative Democrat]]ic [[United States Senate|Senator]], and Gladys Churchill ([[née]] Willis; 1897–1968), a housewife and a musician. At a young age, Robertson was nicknamed 'Pat' by his six-year-old brother, Willis Robertson Jr., who enjoyed patting him on the cheeks when he was a baby while saying "pat, pat, pat". Later, Robertson thought about which first name he would like people to use. He considered "Marion" to be effeminate, and "M. Gordon" to be affected, so he opted for his childhood nickname "Pat".<ref name="davidjohnmarley" />

When he was eleven, Robertson was enrolled in the preparatory [[McDonogh School]] outside [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]]. From 1940 until 1946, he attended [[The McCallie School]] in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]], where he graduated with honors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.regent.edu/about-regent/leadership/m-g-pat-robertson|title=M.G. "Pat" Robertson|website=Regent University|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-16|archive-date=September 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903221225/https://www.regent.edu/about-regent/leadership/m-g-pat-robertson/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Freemasons in America: Inside the Secret Society|last=Jeffers|first=H. Paul|publisher=Kensington Publishing Corp.|year=2007|isbn=978-0806533636|location=New York City}}</ref> He gained admission to [[Washington and Lee University]], where he earned a B.A. in History, graduating [[magna cum laude]]. He was also a member of [[Phi Beta Kappa]], the nation's most prestigious academic honor society.<ref name="officialbio" /> He joined [[Sigma Alpha Epsilon]] fraternity. Robertson said, "Although I worked hard at my studies, my real major centered around lovely young ladies who attended the nearby girls schools."<ref>[http://www.patrobertson.com/education/ "Education"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050403214328/http://www.patrobertson.com/education/ |date=April 3, 2005 }}, The Official Site of Pat Robertson.</ref>

In 1948, the [[Conscription|draft]] was reinstated and Robertson was given the option of joining the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] or being drafted into the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]; he opted for the former.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/pat-robertson-christian-evangelist-former-presidential-candidate-dead/story?id=99928252|title=Pat Robertson, Christian evangelist and former presidential candidate, dead at 93|website=ABC News}}</ref> Robertson described his military service as follows: "We did long, grueling marches to toughen the men, plus refresher training in firearms and bayonet combat." In the same year, he transferred to [[Korea]], "I ended up at the headquarters command of the [[1st Marine Division|First Marine Division]]," says Robertson. "The Division was in combat in the hot and dusty, then bitterly cold portion of [[North Korea]] just above the 38th Parallel later identified as the 'Punchbowl' and 'Heartbreak Ridge'." For Robertson's service in the [[Korean War]], he was awarded three [[Service star|Battle Stars]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130623033105/http://www.patrobertson.com/militaryservice/ "Military Service"], The Official Site of Pat Robertson via [[Internet Archive]].</ref>

In 1986, former [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Congressman [[Pete McCloskey|Paul "Pete" McCloskey Jr.]], who served with Robertson in Camp Pendleton, wrote a public letter challenging Robertson's record in the military. Robertson filed a [[libel]] suit against McCloskey but he dropped the case in 1988 in order to devote "his full time and energies toward the successful attainment of the Republican nomination for the president of the United States."<ref>{{cite news|title=Evangelist sues over combat story|work=The Globe and Mail. |location=Toronto, Ont.|date=October 23, 1986|page=A.16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Robertson's Libel Suit by Judge Ex-Congressman Ruled the Legal Victor|work=Philadelphia Daily News|date=March 7, 1988|page=14}}</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/03/05/robertson-allowed-to-drop-libel-suit-if-court-costs-paid/20244eea-eff7-4af8-a919-76a93036352b/ "Robertson Allowed to Drop Libel Suit if Court Costs Paid"] at ''The Washington Post''; retrieved May 24, 2022</ref>

Robertson was promoted to [[First lieutenant|First Lieutenant]] in 1952 upon his return to the United States. He then went on to receive a law degree from [[Yale Law School]] in 1955, near the top of his class. However, he failed his first and only attempt at the New York bar exam necessary for admission to the [[New York State Bar Association]],<ref>[http://www.patrobertson.com/SpiritualJourney/SomethingMissing.asp "Spiritual Journey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060110151517/http://www.patrobertson.com/SpiritualJourney/SomethingMissing.asp |date=January 10, 2006 }}, The Official Site of Pat Robertson.</ref> which did not deter Robertson because he never intended to practice law anyway. Shortly thereafter he underwent a religious conversion and decided against pursuing a career in business. Instead, Robertson attended [[New York Theological Seminary|The Biblical Seminary in New York]], where he received a [[Master of Divinity]] degree in 1959. He became a born again Christian while having dinner at a restaurant in [[Philadelphia]] with author and World War II veteran, [[Cornelius Vanderbreggen]]. After his conversion, Robertson left the corporate world and went into ministry.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/06/03/pat-robertsons-noble-cause/34cd02ee-1ce9-452f-a52f-a9033f9d3aa4/ "Pat Robertson's 'Noble Cause'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301134852/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/06/03/pat-robertsons-noble-cause/34cd02ee-1ce9-452f-a52f-a9033f9d3aa4/|date=March 1, 2022}} at ''The Washington Post''; by Michael Barone; published June 3, 1986; retrieved May 4, 2022</ref>