During the years of peak civil rights activity in the South, Evangelical clergy consistently criticized the involvement of liberal clergy on the grounds that religion and politics shouldn't mix. Hadden's interest in religious broadcasters was significantly aroused as it became increasingly evident to him that they were making overtures toward involvement in the political process.

He began actively researching television evangelists in early 1980. His first publication on the subject of religious broadcasting entitled "Soul-Saving Via Video" appeared in Christian Century in 1980. During the 1980s he co-authored two books and published some thirty articles and as many op-ed pieces. His two books, Prime Time Preachers (1982) and Televangelism: Power and Politics on God's Frontier (1998) are available on this site. Most of his articles and op-ed pieces have been located and will also be loaded on this page at time permits.