Influential faith leader and longtime presidential adviser Dr. James Dobson has died at 89 years old.
Dobson passed away Thursday morning "following a brief illness," according to an announcement shared by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.
Dobson, a child psychologist, was essential in shaping the national narratives around pornography, gambling, teen pregnancy prevention, and the sanctity of human life, the institute said.
He was a frequent presence in the nation's capital and had a strong voice in American politics, according to the institute.
Dobson advised five U.S. presidents and played key roles in presidential commissions, with appointments by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He also served on President Donald Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board. In 2022, he praised Trump for appointing conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that allowed states to ban abortion.
The faith leader at one point considered running for president himself in the 2020 election.
“He had a big audience. He was not afraid to speak out,” according to Ralph Reed, a Christian conservative political organizer and lobbyist who founded the Faith and Freedom Coalition. “If Jim had decided to run, he would have been a major force.”
The longtime psychologist was an advocate for traditional family values and dedicated his life to strengthening marriages and guiding parents. He was the founder of Focus on the Family, a Christian nonprofit organization that he founded in the 1970s, based in Colorado Springs.
The evangelical icon also pushed some controversial perspectives. He advocated spanking children to enforce discipline but stressed it shouldn’t be done in anger.
Dobson served as a Radio Hall of Fame broadcaster, launching a radio show in which he counseled Christians on how to be good parents.
He was also a New York Times best-selling author, writing more than 70 books in his lifetime dedicated to the preservation of families.
Dobson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, as well as their two children, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.