Truce - History of the Christian Church Republicans and Evangelicals I Jerry Falwell (part 2)
Dec 2, 2025
Rick Perlstein, a historian known for his work on the New Right, and Daniel K. Williams, an expert on evangelical politics, delve into the 1980s political landscape. They discuss how the New Right aimed to unite evangelicals, with Jerry Falwell as a key figure due to his media reach. The conversation highlights Falwell's role in the Moral Majority and its strategies, including voter registration drives. They also explore shifts in evangelical voting patterns, the impact of religious messaging, and how these movements shaped the Republican platform.
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New Right Needed A Religious Figurehead
- Paul Weyrich and the New Right deliberately sought a charismatic religious figure to mobilize conservative evangelicals for political goals.
- They targeted Jerry Falwell because he already had media reach, a folksy persona, and networks within Christian schools and churches.
Congregations Wanted Politicized Pastors
- A 1976 precinct strategy tried recruiting ministers as political organizers but initially backfired when exposed.
- A poll later showed parishioners wanted political leadership from their preachers, opening the door for activism.
Falwell United Multiple Conservative Causes
- Falwell combined Christian nationalism, anti-communism, and conservative economics into a single platform attractive to the New Right.
- That unified agenda made him willing to lead the Moral Majority and link many causes under one umbrella.
