The Nineties in America - Salem Press (2009)

century, and in 1971 he founded
Liberty Baptist College (now Liberty
University). These became the base
for his Moral Majority political orga-
nization (1979-1989), which took so-
cially conservative and controversial
stands against abortion, gay rights,
and women’s rights and became a
force in Republican Party politics
and had some impact on Republi-
can presidential victories in 1980,
1984, and 1988. Such close ties to the
Republican Party explain his pro-
nouncing the benediction at the
1996 Republican National Conven-
tion.
In a bizarre turn of events, Falwell
and the publisher ofHustlermaga-
zine, Larry Flynt, toured the United
States in 1997 to discuss the filmThe
People vs. Larr y Flynt(1996), which
was based on Falwell’s 1983 lawsuit
against Hustler’s parody concerning his first sexual
experience. An initial award of $250,000 in damages
to Falwell was overturned in a unanimous Supreme
Court decision inHustler Magazine v. Falwell(1988).
During the administration of President Bill Clin-
ton (1993-2001), Falwell was a vociferous critic of
the Clintons, especially via the 1994 video produc-
tionThe Clinton Chronicles, which alleged that a con-
spiracy existed to cover up wrongdoings by the
Clintons. Falwell also condemned Bill Clinton’s af-
fair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. In
1995, Falwell began turning over the day-to-day
operation of hisOld Time Gospel Hourradio and tele-
vision program and Liberty University to his son and
associates. Mounting debts due to a decline in dona-
tions and the liberal granting of scholarship monies
to students at Liberty University became a problem;
however, Falwell embarked on a national God Save
America tour, attempting to promote conservative
Christian positions, criticizing “partial-birth abor-
tions” and supporting school vouchers.
Falwell had a penchant for making controversial
remarks. In April, 1997, Falwell called comedian
Ellen DeGeneres, who is gay, “Ellen Degenerate.”
DeGeneres shrugged off the comment saying that
she had been called that before. In February, 1999,
a magazine published by Falwell’s organization
criticized the character Tinky Winky of the British

children’s programTeletubbies, shown on the Public

Broadcasting Service (PBS). The article claimed

that Tinky Winky was gay because of his purple color,

the “purse” he carried, and the triangle-shaped an-

tenna on his head (allegedly a gay symbol).

Impact Falwell’s place in American religion and

politics was controversial because of his conservative

Christian positions on moral and political issues and

his heavy involvement in Republican politics—

which for some raised questions about separation of

church and state. Although his influence waned

somewhat from its peak in the 1980’s, Falwell re-

mained a figure of national importance, admired by

his supporters in the Christian Right and vilified by

detractors.

Further Reading

Harding, Susan Friend.The Book of Jerr y Falwell: Fun-

damentalist Language and Politics.Princeton, N.J.:

Princeton University Press, 2000.

Leonard, Bill J.Baptists in America. New York: Colum-

bia University Press, 2005.

Mark C. Herman

See also Abortion; Bush, George H. W.; Children’s

television; Christian Coalition; Clinton, Bill; Clinton,

Hillary Rodham; Clinton’s impeachment; Clinton’s

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Falwell, Jerry The Nineties in America

Jerry Falwell.(AP/Wide World Photos)