1982 ERA fails; two Florida abortion clinics are firebombed; the owner of an Illinois abortion clinic and his wife are kidnapped and held for a week by the “Army of God.” | 1984 Abortion clinics are firebombed or burned by arsonists 24 times. | |
1987 Televangelist Jim Bakker caught in sex and financial scandals. | 1988 Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart caught in sex scandal; televangelist Robertson fails in Republican nomination bid. | |
1989 Falwell disbands Moral Majority after several years of decline; Robertson founds Christian Coalition, hires wunderkind Ralph Reed to be its director. | ||
1994 GOP wins House and Senate with Christian Coalition help; Christian right gains majority in 18 state parties. | 1992 Buchanan calls for “cultural war” in failed presidential bid; George Bush campaigns on “family values” platform. |