Career Timeline of Bill Clinton: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Bill Clinton, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President (1993-2001), is a prominent American politician and lawyer. A Democrat, he served as Arkansas's Attorney General (1977-1979) and Governor (1979-1981, 1983-1992). Clinton's presidency was defined by centrist 'Third Way' policies, establishing him as a 'New Democrat'.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1972: Campaign Work in Texas

In 1972, Bill Clinton moved to Texas with Hillary Rodham to lead George McGovern's campaign efforts, working with future Dallas mayor Ron Kirk and future Texas governor Ann Richards.

1972: George McGovern Campaign

In 1972, Bill Clinton postponed his summer plans to be a coordinator for the George McGovern campaign for the 1972 United States presidential election to move in with Hillary Rodham in California.

1974: House of Representatives Campaign

In 1974, Bill Clinton ran for the House of Representatives but was defeated by incumbent John Paul Hammerschmidt, despite the anti-Republican sentiment due to the Watergate scandal.

1976: Elected Attorney General of Arkansas

In 1976, Bill Clinton ran for Arkansas attorney general and was elected with no opposition in the general election.

1977: Attorney General of Arkansas

In 1977, Bill Clinton became the attorney general of Arkansas, marking an early step in his political career.

1978: Election as Governor of Arkansas

In 1978, Bill Clinton defeated Republican candidate Lowe to become the governor of Arkansas.

1979: Governor of Arkansas

In 1979, Bill Clinton became the governor of Arkansas, marking a significant milestone in his political career.

1980: Cuban refugee crisis and primary challenge

In 1980, Bill Clinton's term as governor was marked by an unpopular motor vehicle tax and public anger over the escape of Cuban refugees detained in Fort Chaffee. Clinton also faced a primary challenge from Monroe Schwarzlose, who polled 31 percent of the vote. These events foreshadowed Clinton's defeat by Republican challenger Frank D. White in the general election of 1980.

January 1981: Joins Wright, Lindsey and Jennings law firm

In January 1981, after leaving office, Bill Clinton joined the Little Rock law firm of Wright, Lindsey and Jennings.

1981: Continues as Governor of Arkansas

In 1981, Bill Clinton continued his tenure as the governor of Arkansas.

1982: Defeats Frank White for Governor

In 1982, Bill Clinton defeated Frank White to win the election for Governor.

1982: Election as Governor a Second Time

In 1982, Bill Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas for a second time and held the office for ten years.

September 1983: Passage of Arkansas Education Reform

In September 1983, the Arkansas education reforms passed after Bill Clinton called a special legislative session, considered the longest in Arkansas history. This was considered the greatest achievement of his governorship.

1983: Continues as Governor of Arkansas

In 1983, Bill Clinton continued his tenure as the governor of Arkansas.

1984: Defeats Woody Freeman for Governor

In 1984, Bill Clinton defeated Woody Freeman to win the election for Governor.

1985: Delivered the Democratic response to Reagan's State of the Union Address

In 1985, Bill Clinton delivered the Democratic response to President Ronald Reagan's State of the Union Address.

1986: Gubernatorial term length change and Chair of the National Governors Association

Effective with the 1986 election, Arkansas changed its gubernatorial term of office from two to four years. From 1986 to 1987, Clinton served as chair of the National Governors Association, bringing him to an audience beyond Arkansas.

1986: Defeats Frank White for Governor

In 1986, Bill Clinton defeated Frank White to win the election for Governor.

1987: Chair of the National Governors Association

From 1986 to 1987, Bill Clinton served as chair of the National Governors Association, bringing him to an audience beyond Arkansas.

1987: Considered run for president

In 1987, the media speculated that Bill Clinton would enter the presidential race, but he decided to remain as Arkansas governor.

1988: Speech at the Democratic National Convention

In 1988, Bill Clinton gave the opening night address at the Democratic National Convention, but the speech was criticized for being too long.

1990: Defeats Sheffield Nelson for Governor

In 1990, Bill Clinton defeated Sheffield Nelson to win the election for Governor.

1990: Headed the Democratic Leadership Council

In 1990, Bill Clinton headed the moderate Democratic Leadership Council.

1991: Headed the Democratic Leadership Council

In 1991, Bill Clinton headed the moderate Democratic Leadership Council.

March 26, 1992: Clinton responds to AIDS question

On March 26, 1992, during a Democratic fund raiser, Robert Rafsky confronted Bill Clinton about AIDS, to which Clinton replied, "I feel your pain". This exchange led to AIDS becoming an issue in the 1992 presidential election.

1992: Factors Contributing to Clinton's Victory

According to Seymour Martin Lipset, several factors contributed to Bill Clinton's 1992 election victory, including voters' perception of poor economic conditions, a strong third-party candidate, a liberal backlash against a conservative White House, and Clinton's ability to unite his party and win over diverse groups.

1992: Continues as Governor of Arkansas

In 1992, Bill Clinton continued his tenure as the governor of Arkansas.

1992: Elected President of the United States

In 1992, Bill Clinton was elected president of the United States, defeating incumbent George H. W. Bush and independent Ross Perot.

1992: Presidential Election Victory

In 1992, Bill Clinton won the presidential election against incumbent George H. W. Bush and Ross Perot, ending twelve years of Republican rule of the White House. The Democrats gained full control of the United States Congress.

1992: Ricky Ray Rector execution

In 1992, during his presidential campaign, Bill Clinton flew home to Arkansas to affirm the controversial execution of Ricky Ray Rector would proceed as scheduled, drawing attention to his stance on capital punishment.

1992: Clinton faced Bush and Perot in the election

In the 1992 election, Clinton ran against incumbent President Bush and Ross Perot.

January 20, 1993: Inauguration as 42nd President

On January 20, 1993, Bill Clinton was inaugurated as the 42nd president of the United States. His presidency started with an inexperienced staff and some missteps, leading to a drop in public support.

January 22, 1993: Reversal of Restrictions on Family Planning Programs

On January 22, 1993, Bill Clinton reversed restrictions on domestic and international family planning programs that had been imposed by Reagan and Bush.

February 15, 1993: First Address to the Nation

On February 15, 1993, Bill Clinton made his first address to the nation, announcing his plan to raise taxes to close a budget deficit.

September 1993: Oslo Accords signed at the White House

In September 1993, secret negotiations mediated by Clinton led to a historic declaration of peace, the Oslo Accords, which were signed at the White House on September 13 between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat.

September 22, 1993: Health Care Reform Plan Speech to Congress

On September 22, 1993, Bill Clinton addressed Congress to present his health care reform plan, aimed at achieving universal health care coverage through a national health care plan. Hillary Clinton led the task force responsible for creating the plan, but despite initial positive reception, it ultimately failed due to opposition from conservatives, the American Medical Association, and the health insurance industry.

November 30, 1993: Signing of the Brady Bill

On November 30, 1993, President Clinton signed the Brady Bill into law. This mandated federal background checks for firearm purchasers and imposed a five-day waiting period until the NICS system was implemented.

1993: President of the United States

In 1993, Bill Clinton became the 42nd president of the United States, marking a significant achievement in his political career.

1993: Signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act

In 1993, Bill Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act, requiring large employers to allow employees to take unpaid leave for pregnancy or a serious medical condition. This action received bipartisan support and was popular with the public.

1993: Signing of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

In 1993, Bill Clinton signed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which cut taxes for 15 million low-income families, made tax cuts available to 90 percent of small businesses, and raised taxes on the wealthiest 1.2 percent of taxpayers. It also mandated budget balancing through spending restraints.

1993: Trade relations with China

In 1993, Clinton aimed to increase trade with China, minimizing import tariffs and initially conditioning most favored nation status on human rights reforms. He ultimately extended the status despite a lack of reform.

1993: Appointment of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court

In 1993, Clinton appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a justice to the Supreme Court.

January 1, 1994: Signing of NAFTA into law

On January 1, 1994, Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into law. He consistently supported the treaty's ratification by the U.S. Senate, despite disagreement within the Democratic Party.

July 29, 1994: Launch of the First Official White House Website

On July 29, 1994, the Clinton administration launched the first official White House website, whitehouse.gov, marking a move towards web-based communication.

August 1994: Failure of National Health Care System

In August 1994, the effort to create a national health care system failed when compromise legislation by George J. Mitchell failed to gain a majority of support. This marked the first major legislative defeat of the Clinton administration.

September 1994: Signing of the Omnibus Crime Bill

In September 1994, Clinton signed the Omnibus Crime Bill into law, making various changes to U.S. crime and law enforcement legislation, including expanding the death penalty.

1994: Appointment of Stephen Breyer to the Supreme Court

In 1994, Clinton appointed Stephen Breyer as a justice to the Supreme Court.

1994: Republican Takeover of Congress

In 1994, after two years of Democratic control, the Republican Party gained control of Congress in the mid-term elections for the first time in forty years.

1994: Israel-Jordan peace treaty

In 1994, the Israel–Jordan peace treaty was established, as a result of Clinton's attempts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

1994: Lopsided defeat of national Democrats in the elections.

In 1994, there was a lopsided defeat of national Democrats in the elections. This, in addition to the Whitewater controversy led to President Clintons approval rating dropping as low as 40% in early 1995.

November 1995: Clinton Visits Northern Ireland

In November 1995, during a ceasefire during the Troubles, Bill Clinton became the first U.S. president to visit Northern Ireland, examining both of the two divided communities of Belfast and playing a key role in peace talks.

December 6, 1995: White House Conference on HIV/AIDS Speech

On December 6, 1995, President Bill Clinton delivered a speech at the White House Conference on HIV/AIDS where he projected that a cure for AIDS and a vaccine to prevent further infection would be developed. He highlighted his administration's work related to the epidemic and announced new initiatives to coordinate AIDS research, integrate HIV and substance abuse prevention, and ensure equal access to healthcare for people with HIV and AIDS.

1995: Clinton's approval rating recovers.

In mid-1995, President Clinton's approval rating upticked as a result of a rebounding economy and the growing unpopularity of congressional Republicans.

July 17, 1996: Executive Order 13011 - Federal Information Technology

On July 17, 1996, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13011, titled "Federal Information Technology," mandating that all federal agencies utilize information technology to make agency information easily accessible to the public.

September 30, 1996: Signing of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act

On September 30, 1996, President Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) as part of an initiative to curb illegal immigration.

1996: First Decline in New HIV/AIDS Diagnoses

1996 marked the first year since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that the number of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses declined.

1996: Re-election as President

In 1996, Bill Clinton won re-election as President, defeating Bob Dole and Ross Perot.

1996: Clinton's Re-election Chances Improve

In 1996, Clinton's chances of being re-elected initially seemed slim, but rebounded due to a growing unpopularity of congressional Republicans, public opinion of Clinton upticked, and early polls found he had a lead of up to 20 points over his likely Republican opponent Bob Dole.

1996: State Department warning about bin Laden

In 1996, the State Department issued a warning regarding bin Laden, prompting Clinton to order unsuccessful military missions to capture or kill him.

January 1997: State of the Union Address and SCHIP Proposal

In January 1997, during the State of the Union address, President Clinton proposed a new initiative to provide health coverage to up to five million children. Hillary Rodham Clinton, along with Senators Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch, successfully passed legislation forming the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

1997: Significant Decline in AIDS-Related Deaths

In 1997, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a significant 47% decline in the number of AIDS-related deaths compared to the previous year. The decline was attributed to the growing effectiveness of new drug therapy such as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), promoted by the Clinton Administration's Department of Health and Human Services.

August 1998: Cruise missile strikes on terrorist targets

In August 1998, President Clinton ordered cruise missile strikes on terrorist targets in Afghanistan and Sudan, including the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan, suspected of assisting bin Laden in making chemical weapons, and bin Laden's terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. The Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory was destroyed in the attack.

October 1998: Wye River Memorandum

In October 1998, the Wye River Memorandum was established as part of Clinton's attempts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

1998: Implementation of NICS system

In 1998 the NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) was implemented, as required by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, originally signed into law on November 30, 1993, by President Clinton.

1998: Clinton's Role in the Good Friday Agreement

In 1998, Bill Clinton played a key role in the peace talks that produced the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.

1998: Impeachment proceedings begin

In 1998, Clinton's impeachment proceedings began, though his job approval rating reached its highest point during this period.

1998: Budget Surplus Reported

In 1998, the Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplus of $69 billion during Bill Clinton's presidency. However, the gross national debt rose to $5.526 trillion.

January 1999: Impeachment Trial Begins

In January 1999, Bill Clinton's impeachment trial began in the Senate, following his impeachment by the House of Representatives in December 1998.

March 24, 1999: Start of NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia

On March 24, 1999, Clinton authorized the use of U.S. Armed Forces in a NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, named Operation Allied Force, in response to the crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo.

May 1999: American bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade

In May 1999, relations between the U.S. and China were damaged when the American bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade occurred. Clinton apologized for the bombing, stating it was accidental.

June 10, 1999: End of NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia

On June 10, 1999, the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, known as Operation Allied Force, ended with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. This resolution placed Kosovo under UN administration and authorized the deployment of a peacekeeping force to the region.

1999: Financial Services Modernization Act Signed into Law

In 1999, Bill Clinton signed into law the Financial Services Modernization Act, also known as the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act, repealing part of the Glass–Steagall Act that had prohibited banks from offering a full range of financial services since 1933.

1999: Impeachment proceedings continue

In 1999, Clinton's impeachment proceedings continued, though his job approval rating remained high.

1999: Budget Surplus Reported

In 1999, the Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplus of $126 billion during Bill Clinton's presidency. However, the gross national debt rose to $5.656 trillion.

July 21, 2000: Launch of the Final Version of the White House Website

On July 21, 2000, the Clinton administration launched the final version of the White House website, whitehouse.gov, completing a series of updates and improvements.

October 10, 2000: Signing of United States–China Relations Act of 2000

On October 10, 2000, Clinton signed into law the United States–China Relations Act of 2000, granting permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) trade status to China. He asserted that free trade would gradually open China to democratic reform.

December 2000: Attempt at Bolling Air Force Base

In December 2000, Clinton made another attempt to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at Bolling Air Force Base, offering the Clinton Parameters, but the situation broke down after the end of the Taba Summit.

2000: Budget Surplus Reported

In 2000, the Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplus of $236 billion during Bill Clinton's presidency. However, the gross national debt rose to $5.674 trillion.

January 2001: Clintons' Earnings

From January 2001 to December 2015, Forbes reported Bill and Hillary Clinton made about $240 million, mostly from paid speeches, business consulting and book-writing.

2001: Leaves Office

In 2001, Bill Clinton left office with a high approval rating and has since been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work.

2001: Supreme Court of Kosovo ruling

In 2001, the UN-supervised Supreme Court of Kosovo ruled that genocide did not take place, but recognized "a systematic campaign of terror" against the Albanian population.

2001: Post-Presidency Speaking Engagements

Since leaving office in 2001, Bill Clinton has given dozens of paid speeches each year, mostly to corporations and philanthropic groups in North America and Europe, earning $100,000 to $300,000 per speech. Hillary Clinton described them as financially broke upon leaving the White House.

2002: Warning Against Iraq War

In 2002, Bill Clinton warned that pre-emptive military action against Iraq would have unwelcome consequences. He later claimed to have opposed the Iraq War from the start.

2004: Appointment to Head Tsunami Relief Effort

Following the 2004 Asian tsunami, U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan appointed Bill Clinton to head a relief effort.

January 2005: Establishment of Bush-Clinton Tsunami Fund

In January 2005, after the 2004 Asian tsunami, Bill Clinton joined with George H. W. Bush to establish the Bush-Clinton Tsunami Fund to provide aid to affected areas.

2005: Criticism of Bush Administration's Emissions Control

In 2005, Bill Clinton criticized the Bush administration for its handling of emissions control while speaking at the United Nations Climate Change conference in Montreal.

2005: Clinton Global Initiative Begun & Sugary Drinks Agreement

In 2005, the Clinton Foundation began the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and Bill Clinton announced an agreement with manufacturers to stop selling sugary drinks in schools.

2006: Death of Slobodan Milošević

In 2006, Slobodan Milošević, the president of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo conflict, died before the completion of his trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

2006: Partnership with Climate Leadership Group

In 2006, the Clinton Foundation joined with the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group to improve cooperation among those cities, and Bill Clinton met with foreign leaders to promote this initiative.

2007: Release of "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World"

In 2007, Bill Clinton released his book "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World", which became a New York Times Best Seller and garnered positive reviews.

Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World

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August 27, 2008: Endorsement of Barack Obama at DNC

On August 27, 2008, at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Bill Clinton enthusiastically endorsed Barack Obama for president, stating that Obama was "ready to lead".

2008: Campaigning for Hillary Clinton

In 2008, Bill Clinton was actively campaigning for his wife's presidential campaign.

2008: Deals to Reduce Anti-Malaria Drug Prices

In 2008, Clinton Foundation director Inder Singh announced deals to reduce the price of anti-malaria drugs by 30 percent in developing nations. Clinton also spoke in favor of California Proposition 87 on alternative energy, which was voted down.

2009: North Korea Trip for Imprisoned Journalists

In 2009, Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea on behalf of two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who had been imprisoned for illegally entering the country from China. Kim Jong-il issued a pardon after meeting with Clinton.

2009: Named UN Special Envoy to Haiti

In 2009, Bill Clinton was named United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti following a series of hurricanes which caused $1 billion in damages.

January 12, 2010: Haitian Earthquake

On January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by an earthquake, leading to Bill Clinton's later recognition for his reconstruction efforts.

2010: Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

In 2010, after the Haiti earthquake, Bill Clinton co-founded the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund with George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

2010: Coordinating Haiti Recovery Efforts

In 2010, in response to the Haiti earthquake, Barack Obama announced that Bill Clinton and George W. Bush would coordinate efforts to raise funds for Haiti's recovery. Also in 2010, Clinton announced support of, and delivered the keynote address for, the inauguration of NTR, Ireland's first environmental foundation.

2011: Awarded National Order of Honour and Merit

In 2011, Haitian president Michel Martelly awarded Bill Clinton with the National Order of Honour and Merit to the rank of Grand Cross for his initiatives in Haiti and especially his contribution to the reconstruction of the country after the earthquake of January 12, 2010.

2012: Speech at Democratic National Convention

At the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Bill Clinton gave a widely praised speech nominating Barack Obama.

June 2014: Clinton's Earnings from Paid Speeches

In June 2014, ABC News and The Washington Post reported that Bill Clinton has made more than $100 million giving paid speeches since leaving public office.

May 2015: Clinton's Speaking Fees and Book Earnings

In May 2015, The Hill reported that Bill and Hillary Clinton have made more than $25 million in speaking fees since the start of 2014, and that Hillary Clinton also made $5 million or more from her book, "Hard Choices", during the same time period.

Hard Choices

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December 2015: Clintons' Earnings

Forbes reported that between January 2001 and December 2015, Bill and Hillary Clinton made about $240 million, primarily from paid speeches, business consulting, and book writing.

2016: Support for Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign

During the 2016 presidential election, Bill Clinton encouraged voters to support Hillary Clinton and made appearances speaking on the campaign trail. He also served as a member of the electoral college for the state of New York and voted for the Democratic ticket of Hillary and Tim Kaine.

2016: Campaigning for Hillary Clinton

In 2016, Bill Clinton was actively campaigning for his wife's presidential campaign.

2016: Clintons' Earnings

In 2016, Forbes reported Bill and Hillary Clinton made about $240 million in the 15 years from January 2001, to December 2015, mostly from paid speeches, business consulting and book-writing. Also in 2016, CNN reported the Clintons combined to receive more than $153 million in paid speeches from 2001 until spring 2015.

September 7, 2017: Partnership with Former Presidents for Hurricane Relief

On September 7, 2017, Bill Clinton partnered with former presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama to work with One America Appeal to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma in the Gulf Coast and Texas communities.

2020: Electoral College Vote for Biden and Harris

In 2020, Bill Clinton again served as a member of the United States Electoral College from New York, casting his vote for the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

November 2024: Publication of Second Memoir Volume

In November 2024, Bill Clinton's second volume of memoirs, "Citizen: My Life After the White House", was published.

Citizen: My Life After the White House

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2024: Endorsement of Biden's Re-Election Campaign

In 2024, Bill Clinton was one of the first public figures to endorse Joe Biden's re-election campaign, appearing in interviews and fundraisers. He defended Biden after a debate, and after Biden withdrew, endorsed Kamala Harris.