Dr. James Dobson, a politically influential child psychologist who started a radio show counseling Christians on how to be good parents, founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family and was a campaigner against abortion and gay rights,

James Dobson, a formidable force in America's social conservative movement and promoter of an anti-abortion and "pro-family" agenda, died on Thursday at age 89.

His leadership extended beyond media and publishing as he advised multiple U.S. administrations on family policy, juvenile justice, and child welfare.