3,000 Tell Evangelist to ‘Go for’ Presidency at Giant Fund-Raiser

Television evangelist Pat Roberston, beating the drums for a possible 1988 presidential campaign, drew a crowd of about 3,000 people to a giant fund-raising dinner at the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday night.

The event, billed as a $1,000-a-plate chicken dinner, was attended by guests from Northern California as well as Southern California. But a $1,000 donation wasn’t mandatory, and none of those interviewed said they would contribute that much, although they still wanted Robertson to be president.

The evening got off to a rousing start when Robertson entered the Southwest Hall to chants of “Go for it!”

Christian Freedoms

“This is a pep rally toward him serving as president,” said Tamara Wahl, 34, an investment officer from Los Angeles. Wahl said she wanted Robertson to bring back “sound principles and true Christian freedoms” to American life, including prayer in schools and laws banning abortion.

Robertson, whose “700 Club” television program is broadcast nationally, is expected to formally announce in September that he will seek the Republican presidential nomination.

Saturday night’s dinner followed a similar event for Robertson Friday at a Texas barbecue. About 6,000 Robertson supporters came to the affair at the ranch of multimillionaire Nelson Bunker Hunt near Fort Worth.

“Tens of thousands of people have been on their feet and almost with one voice saying ‘Go for it,’ ” Robertson told the Anaheim crowd. “That’s wonderful but that’s not enough. The question is, what is God’s will for me.

“On Sept. 17th I plan to make a more definitive statement,” he added, saying he already knows “deep in my heart” what God wants him to do.

Robertson, 56, hopes to boost his campaign efforts with a strong showing in next Tuesday’s Michigan Republican presidential primary, the first step in a multitiered process that will determine the makeup of the state’s delegation to the 1988 GOP national nominating convention.

In Anaheim, early-arriving Robertson supporters were treated before the dinner to Dixieland jazz and soft drinks at an outdoor reception next to the hall, where an elephant named Dixie, wearing a “Go for it, Pat” banner across its back and a “Smile, Jesus Loves You” patch on its head, was gaining much of the attention. Its trainer said it was from Norco.

Regular Watcher

One of Robertson’s supporters was Don Cornellis, a retired production manager from Paso Robles who, like many in the crowd, was a regular watcher of the evangelist’s Christian Broadcast Network program.

Cornellis said he was at the fund-raiser because “I hope he runs for president.”

Asked whether he intended to contribute $1,000 when the collection for the dinner was taken later, Cornellis said: “It depends on what he says. Maybe $300. It’s the first time he’s asking. I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

Millard Fillmore, wearing a “700 Club” pin in his lapel and saying he is a descendant of the former president of the same name, characterized Robertson as a great presidential candidate because “he’s a godly man, he seeks the will of God.

“My wife and I are going to talk about that,” Fillmore said when asked if he would contribute the $1,000 requested.

Robertson shared with his supporters “my dream for America.” Actually, there were several dreams:

- First, that there will be “no more industrialists and bankers in the free world financing communist oppression.”

- Then that he dreamed of a time “when we have a Congress with enough statesmanship to take an ax to the federal budget.”

- He said, “I dream of a nation when the Bible is honored, and when little children can once again pray in the schools of our land.”

- And “I dream of a time when an unborn baby is safe in his mother’s womb.”

Robertson received a standing ovation, with many in the audience raising their hands over their heads to clap.

As Robertson spoke, ushers went through the crowd, first passing out pledge cards and then several minutes later collecting them. The cards said “Yes, Pat! I/We want you to be the next president of the United States.” Then there was a space for the contributor to check off $1,000 for the individual, $2,000 for husband and wife, and to pay by check or credit card.

Not All Supporters

As people studied the card, Robertson said at the microphone, “Write a check. I wish you would because of the great deal of need at this moment.”

Not everyone at the dinner was an avid supporter. Alberta Christy, the secretary of the Republican Party in Orange County and also president of the county’s Black Republican Council, said she is undecided who to support for president. But Christy said she met Robertson when he came to speak to the Orange County Republican Central Committee about a month ago and was impressed with him.

Robertson’s invitation to Saturday night’s event had the tone of a presidential candidate.

“Now is the time to tell a few close friends what my thinking is,” the invitation read.

It also said, “These few hours will be history-making. What happens on Aug. 2 is not just a decision for Pat Robertson. It is a decision for all Americans.”

Yet dinner organizers said that Robertson would not be making any formal announcement about his political intentions.

Robertson’s host for the dinner was Barry G. Hon, a developer from Laguna Niguel.