Full History Of Bill Clinton In Timeline From 1933

1933: Enactment of the Glass-Steagall Act

In 1933, the Glass-Steagall Act was enacted, which prohibited banks from offering a full range of investment, commercial banking, and insurance services. In 1999, President Clinton repealed part of the Glass–Steagall Act.

September 4, 1943: Marriage of William Jefferson Blythe Jr. and Virginia Dell Cassidy

On September 4, 1943, William Jefferson Blythe Jr. and Virginia Dell Cassidy married, although this union was later discovered to be bigamous.

August 19, 1946: Bill Clinton's Birth

On August 19, 1946, William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe) was born. He later became the 42nd president of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001.

1950: Family Moved to Hot Springs

In 1950, Bill's mother returned from nursing school and married Roger Clinton Sr., moving the family to Hot Springs, Arkansas.

1961: Member of the Order of DeMolay

In 1961, Bill Clinton became a member of the Hot Springs Chapter of the Order of DeMolay, a youth group affiliated with Freemasonry.

1963: Influential moments

In 1963, Clinton identified two influential moments in his life, visiting the White House as a Boys Nation senator to meet President John F. Kennedy, and watching Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech on TV.

1964: Elected class president

In 1964, Bill Clinton won an election for class president.

1964: Arkansas's last execution before reinstatement

The year 1964 marked the last execution in Arkansas before the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.

1965: Elected class president

In 1965, Bill Clinton won an election for class president.

1967: Intern and Clerk

From 1964 to 1967, Bill Clinton worked as an intern and then a clerk in the office of Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright.

1968: Graduation from Georgetown University

In 1968, Bill Clinton graduated from Georgetown University, marking a significant milestone in his education.

1968: Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford

In 1968, Bill Clinton won a Rhodes Scholarship to University College, Oxford, initially studying philosophy, politics, and economics.

1968: Educational Draft Deferment

In 1968, during the Vietnam War, Bill Clinton received educational draft deferments while he was in England.

October 1969: Moratorium to End the War

In October 1969, while at Oxford, Bill Clinton organized a Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam event.

1969: Budget surplus reported

In 1969, the Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplus

1969: Vietnam War discussion at pub

In the summer term of 1969, Bill Clinton and Frank Aller discussed the Vietnam War with Sara Maitland at a pub in Walton Street.

1971: Meets Hillary Rodham

In 1971, Bill Clinton met his future wife, Hillary Rodham, at the Yale Law Library.

1971: Frank Aller's suicide

In 1971, the suicide of Frank Aller, a fellow American Rhodes Scholar, had a significant impact on Bill Clinton.

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.

1973: Graduation from Yale Law School

In 1973, Bill Clinton earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Yale Law School.

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.

October 11, 1975: Marriage to Hillary Rodham

On October 11, 1975, Bill Clinton married Hillary Rodham in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They had met while studying at Yale University.

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.

1976: Reinstatement of death penalty in Arkansas

In 1976, the death penalty was reinstated in Arkansas.

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.

1978: Alleged Rape by Clinton

In the spring of 1978, Juanita Broaddrick alleges that Bill Clinton raped her. She told multiple witnesses in 1978 she had been raped by Clinton, something these witnesses also state in interviews to the press.

1979: Governor of Arkansas

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

February 27, 1980: Birth of Chelsea Clinton

On February 27, 1980, Bill and Hillary Clinton had Chelsea Clinton, their only child.

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.

1980: Nickname "Slick Willie" first applied

In 1980, the nickname "Slick Willie" was first applied to Clinton by journalist Paul Greenberg.

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.

1984: President Ronald Reagan's landslide victory

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan had a landslide victory, leading the New Democrats, including Bill Clinton, to advocate for a more centrist political stance for the Democratic Party.

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.

1985: Roger Clinton's Drug Sentence

In 1985, Bill Clinton's half-brother Roger was sentenced to prison for possession and smuggling of cocaine.

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: Don Henry and Kevin Ives Murders

In 1987, the killing of Don Henry and Kevin Ives started conspiracy theories that accused Bill Clinton and the Arkansas state authorities of covering up the crime.

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.

1989: Iran Brings Case Against the U.S. in the International Court of Justice

In 1989, Iran brought a case against the U.S. in the International Court of Justice after the shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655 by the U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser. In February 1996, the Clinton administration agreed to pay Iran US$131.8 million in settlement to discontinue the case.

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.

December 1991: "Safe, legal, and rare" slogan

In December 1991, while campaigning, Bill Clinton first used the slogan "safe, legal, and rare" regarding abortion.

1991: Headed the Democratic Leadership Council

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

1991: Alleged unwanted advances towards Paula Jones

In 1991, Clinton allegedly made unwanted advances towards Paula Jones, which later led to a sexual harassment lawsuit in 1994.

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: Nickname Bubba

From the 1992 presidential election onward, Clinton was nicknamed Bubba because of his folksy manner.

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: Time's Man of the Year

In 1992, Bill Clinton was selected as Time's "Man of the Year".

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: Clinton Proposes Peace Envoy to Northern Ireland

In 1992, before his presidency, Bill Clinton proposed sending a peace envoy to Northern Ireland, but this was dropped to avoid tensions with the British government.

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: Draft Controversy During Campaign

In 1992, during his presidential campaign, it was revealed that Clinton's uncle attempted to secure him a position in the Navy Reserve to avoid deployment to Vietnam.

1992: Holmes' Statement

In 1992, during the presidential campaign, Colonel Eugene Holmes issued a notarized statement suspecting that Clinton tried to manipulate the situation to avoid the draft.

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.

April 19, 1993: Waco Siege Operation

On April 19, 1993, under President Clinton's attorney general Janet Reno, the FBI used tear gas on the Branch Davidian community near Waco, Texas, leading to a fire and the deaths of 75 residents, including 24 children.

May 19, 1993: Firing of White House Travel Office Employees

On May 19, 1993, Bill Clinton fired seven employees of the White House Travel Office, leading to the White House travel office controversy.

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 1993: David Hale's Allegations Against Clinton

In November 1993, David Hale alleged that Bill Clinton, while governor of Arkansas, pressured him to provide an illegal $300,000 loan to Susan McDougal, the Clintons' partner in the Whitewater land deal.

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: White House Visits

Between 1993 and 1995, while Clinton was president, Jeffrey Epstein visited the White House at least 17 times; logs show that Clinton was not at the White House for some of the visits during those dates. Specifically in 1993 Clinton became a member of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. with his wife.

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: Clinton Pressures European Leaders on Bosnian War

In 1993, Bill Clinton pressured Western European leaders to adopt a strong military policy against Bosnian Serbs during the Bosnian War.

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.

1993: Kathleen Willey's Allegation

In 1993, Kathleen Willey alleged that Bill Clinton had groped her in a hallway. An independent counsel determined Willey gave "false information" to the FBI, inconsistent with sworn testimony related to the Jones allegation.

1993: Battle of Mogadishu and Shift in Somalia Policy

In 1993, during the Battle of Mogadishu, two U.S. helicopters were shot down, leading to a deadly urban battle that resulted in a drop in support for American intervention in Somalia. This occurred during the Clinton administration.

1993: Joined Foundry United Methodist Church

In 1993, when Bill Clinton became president, he became a member of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. with his wife, a Methodist.

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.

April 1994: Genocide in Rwanda and Clinton's Decision Not to Intervene

In April 1994, genocide broke out in Rwanda. Clinton, fearing a reprisal of events in Somalia, chose not to intervene, a decision he later regretted.

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: Clinton Declares Iran a "State Sponsor of Terrorism"

In 1994, Bill Clinton declared that Iran was a "state sponsor of terrorism" and a "rogue state", marking the first time an American president used that term. The Clinton administration subsequently heavily sanctioned Iran's oil industry and banned trade between U.S. companies and the Iranian government.

1994: Clinton Pressures European Leaders on Bosnian War

In 1994, Bill Clinton pressured Western European leaders to adopt a strong military policy against Bosnian Serbs during the Bosnian War.

1994: Appointment of Stephen Breyer to the Supreme Court

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

1994: Jimmy Carter Visit to North Korea

In 1994, Jimmy Carter made a similar visit to North Korea. This is in reference to Bill Clinton's 2009 trip to North Korea to free imprisoned journalists.

1994: Paula Jones initiates sexual harassment lawsuit

In 1994, Paula Jones initiated a sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton, claiming he had made unwanted advances towards her in 1991.

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.

1994: Honorary Degree from Oxford

In 1994, while president, Bill Clinton received an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree and a fellowship from the University of Oxford for his work towards world peace.

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: White House Visits

Between 1993 and 1995, while Clinton was president, Jeffrey Epstein visited the White House at least 17 times; logs show that Clinton was not at the White House for some of the visits during those dates.

1995: Fundraising Dinner

In 1995, Clinton attended a fundraising dinner for the Democratic National Committee hosted by Ron Perelman at his Palm Beach home for 14 invited guests. The guests included Epstein, singer Jimmy Buffett, actor Don Johnson, Deandra Douglas (wife of actor Michael Douglas), and others, and each guest donated $100,000.

1995: U.S. and NATO Bomb Bosnian Serb Targets

In 1995, U.S. and NATO aircraft bombed Bosnian Serb targets to halt attacks on UN safe zones and pressure them into a peace accord. Clinton also deployed U.S. peacekeepers to Bosnia.

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.

February 1996: Clinton Administration Agrees to Settlement with Iran

In February 1996, the Clinton administration agreed to pay Iran US$131.8 million in settlement to discontinue a case brought by Iran in 1989 against the U.S. in the International Court of Justice after the shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655.

May 1996: Clinton's First Documented Reference to Gay Marriage

In May 1996, President Clinton made his first documented reference to the issue of gay marriage, in a brief written response to a Reader's Digest questioning whether he agreed with it.

June 1996: White House FBI Files Controversy

In June 1996, the White House FBI files controversy arose concerning improper access by the White House to FBI security-clearance documents.

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 21, 1996: Signing of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

On September 21, 1996, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law. This defined marriage for federal purposes as the legal union of one man and one woman and allowed individual states to refuse to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. Critics cited the act as discriminatory towards the LGBT community.

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.

November 1996: Assassination Attempt in the Philippines

In November 1996, President Clinton narrowly escaped a possible assassination attempt in the Philippines, involving a bridge bomb planted by al-Qaeda and masterminded by Osama bin Laden.

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: Chinese Contributions to Clinton's Reelection Campaign

In 1996, it was discovered that several Chinese foreigners made illegal contributions to Bill Clinton's reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee with the backing of the People's Republic of China.

1996: Failure of Employment Non-Discrimination Act

In 1996, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which Bill Clinton lobbied for, failed to pass the Senate by a single vote. The bill aimed to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation in the private sector.

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.

1996: United States campaign finance controversy

In 1996, there was a United States campaign finance controversy, which was an alleged effort by China to influence the domestic policies of the United States, before and during the Clinton administration, and involved the fundraising practices of the administration itself. The Chinese government denied all accusations.

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).

February 1997: Controversy Over Donations and White House Stays

In February 1997, it was revealed that 938 people stayed at the White House, with 821 of them donating to the Democratic Party and receiving stays in the Lincoln bedroom as a result.

October 1997: Clinton Announces Use of Hearing Aids

In October 1997, Bill Clinton announced he was getting hearing aids due to hearing loss attributed to his age and time spent as a musician.

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.

1997: Gross debt reported

In 1997, the U.S. Treasury reported a gross debt of $5.413 trillion.

March 19, 1998: Julie Hiatt Steele Accusation

On March 19, 1998, Julie Hiatt Steele, a friend of Kathleen Willey, released an affidavit accusing Willey of asking her to lie and corroborate Willey's account of being sexually groped by Bill Clinton.

April 1998: Dismissal of Paula Jones lawsuit

In April 1998, Judge Susan Webber Wright initially dismissed Paula Jones' sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton on the grounds that it lacked legal merit.

August 1998: Admission of affair with Monica Lewinsky

In August 1998, Clinton admitted to having an affair with Monica Lewinsky, which gained traction for Paula Jones' sexual harassment suit.

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: Tentative settlement offer in Paula Jones case

In October 1998, Clinton's attorneys tentatively offered $700,000 to settle the Paula Jones case, which was then the $800,000 which Jones' lawyers sought.

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.

October 31, 1998: Clinton Signs Iraq Liberation Act

On October 31, 1998, Bill Clinton signed the Iraq Liberation Act, which instituted a policy of "regime change" against Iraq but did not provide for direct intervention.

December 1998: Impeachment Hearings Begin Against Clinton

In December 1998, impeachment hearings against President Clinton began in the House of Representatives before the mid-term elections.

December 19, 1998: Clinton Impeached by the House of Representatives

On December 19, 1998, Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, making him the second U.S. president to be impeached.

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: Time's Man of the Year

In 1998, Bill Clinton was selected as Time's "Man of the Year", along with Ken Starr.

1998: Impeachment proceedings begin

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

1998: Juanita Broaddrick's Allegation

In 1998, Juanita Broaddrick alleged that Bill Clinton had raped her in the spring of 1978. She had earlier filed an affidavit denying any "unwelcome sexual advances" and later repeated the denial in a sworn deposition, stating she had denied being raped only to avoid testifying publicly.

1998: Toni Morrison calls Clinton "the first black president"

In 1998, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison called Clinton "the first black president", citing his background and the scrutiny of his personal life.

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.

1998: Lewinsky Scandal Impact

In 1998, the Lewinsky scandal led to Bill Clinton's impeachment, and has had an enduring impact on his legacy. The affair has been revisited as an abuse of power, given the power differential between a president and a 22-year-old intern.

1998: Clinton's State of the Union Address Warning on Saddam Hussein

In Bill Clinton's 1998 State of the Union Address, he warned Congress that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was building an arsenal of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, although there was no evidence for that claim.

1998: Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal

In early 1998, the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal came to light, revealing an affair between President Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

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.

February 12, 1999: Senate Acquits Clinton of Impeachment Charges

On February 12, 1999, the Senate acquitted Bill Clinton of both charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, failing to reach the two-thirds majority required for conviction.

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.

December 1999: Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People

In December 1999, Bill Clinton was among eighteen included in Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century.

1999: Attacks on Iraqi Air Defenses in No-Fly Zones

In 1999, American and British aircraft in the Iraq no-fly zones attacked hostile Iraqi air defenses 166 times.

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: Criticism of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Implementation

In 1999, President Clinton criticized the implementation of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, stating that it was "out of whack". He originally signed the bill into action in 1993, as a compromise after his proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the military met staunch opposition.

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.

January 1, 2000: Clintons' Income Tax Returns

From January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2007, the Clintons' income tax returns show they made $109 million, including almost $92 million from his speaking and book-writing.

March 2000: Independent Counsel Finds No Crime in FBI Files Controversy

In March 2000, Independent Counsel Robert Ray determined there was no credible evidence of any crime regarding the White House's access to FBI files.

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: Attacks on Iraqi Air Defenses in No-Fly Zones

In 2000, American and British aircraft in the Iraq no-fly zones attacked hostile Iraqi air defenses 78 times.

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.

2000: Nickname The Big Dog

Since 2000, Bill Clinton has been referred to as "The Big Dog".

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.

January 19, 2001: Clinton's Law License Suspended

On January 19, 2001, Bill Clinton's law license was suspended for five years after he acknowledged engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in the Jones case.

January 20, 2001: Clinton Issues Pardons on Last Day in Office

On January 20, 2001, Bill Clinton issued 141 pardons and 36 commutations on his last day in office, sparking controversy, including the pardon of Marc Rich and allegations of payments for influencing pardon decisions.

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: NAACP President's Award

In 2001, Bill Clinton received the NAACP President's Award.

2001: Medal for Distinguished Public Service & Clinton Presidential Center Opening

In 2001, Bill Clinton was presented with the Medal for Distinguished Public Service. Also in 2001, The Clinton Presidential Center was opened in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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.

2002: Clinton Global Initiative & Epstein

In 2002, Jeffrey Epstein was described by a Clinton spokesperson as a "highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist" who provided "insights and generosity". Also in 2002, President Clinton took a trip on Jeffrey Epstein's airplane to Europe in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation.

2002: Alleged visit to Little St. James Island

In 2002, Virginia Roberts, later known as Virginia Giuffre, said in a lawsuit against Prince Andrew that Clinton had traveled to Little St. James Island.

2002: Gallup Poll on Clinton's job approval

In 2002, there was a Gallup Poll on Bill Clinton's job approval, which was used as a comparison to measure his increase in job approval by 2006.

2003: Trips on Epstein's airplane

In 2002 and 2003, President Clinton took four trips on Jeffrey Epstein's airplane: one to Europe, one to Asia, and two to Africa, which included stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation.

2003: Grammy Award

In 2003, Bill Clinton, along with Mikhail Gorbachev and Sophia Loren, received the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for Wolf Tracks and Peter and the Wolf.

2003: Alleged visit to Little St. James Island

Unverified reports alleged that Clinton flew to Little St. James Island, Epstein's Caribbean island, on Epstein's private jet between January 2001 and 2003.

June 2004: Official White House Portrait Unveiled

In June 2004, Bill Clinton's official White House portrait, commissioned by the White House Historical Association, was unveiled. It was painted by Simmie Knox.

September 2004: Quadruple Bypass Surgery

In September 2004, Bill Clinton underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

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.

March 2005: Lung Surgery

In March 2005, Bill Clinton underwent surgery for a partially collapsed lung.

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.

2005: Grammy Award for My Life Audiobook

In 2005, the audiobook edition of Bill Clinton's autobiography, My Life, read by Clinton himself, won the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.

My Life

Check it on Amazon

May 2006: CNN poll comparing Clinton's performance to Bush's

In May 2006, a CNN poll found that a strong majority of respondents said Clinton outperformed Bush in six different areas questioned.

June 2006: Gallup poll on Clinton's job approval

In June 2006, a Gallup poll found that 61 percent of Americans approved of the job Clinton did as president, a 10-point increase from a 2002 poll.

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.

April 2007: Appearance at Boris Yeltsin's Funeral

In April 2007, Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush spoke together at the funeral of Boris Yeltsin.

2007: Gallup poll on greatest presidents

A 2007 Gallup poll showed that Clinton was regarded by 13 percent of Americans as the greatest president in U.S. history.

2007: Grammy Nomination for Giving Audiobook

In 2007, Bill Clinton received a Grammy nomination for his audiobook Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World.

Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World

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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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December 31, 2007: Clintons' Income Tax Returns

The Clintons' income tax returns show that, from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2007, they made $109 million, including almost $92 million from speaking and book-writing.

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.

2008: Clintons' Income Tax Returns

In 2008, The New York Times reported that the Clintons' income tax returns show they made $109 million in the eight years from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2007, including almost $92 million from his speaking and book-writing.

July 2009: Clinton Comes Out for Gay Marriage

In July 2009, former President Bill Clinton publicly announced his support for gay marriage.

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.

February 11, 2010: Heart Stent Implantation

On February 11, 2010, Bill Clinton was rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia Hospital in Manhattan after complaining of chest pains, and he had two coronary stents implanted in his heart.

2010: Gallup survey on Clinton's job approval

In 2010, a Gallup survey showed that 69 percent of respondents approved of the job Clinton did as president, including 47 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of independents.

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.

July 2, 2011: The New York Times Editorial on DOMA

On July 2, 2011, The New York Times published an editorial describing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as an election-year wedge issue and "one of [Bill] President Clinton's worst policy moments."

2011: Gallup poll on greatest presidents

A 2011 Gallup poll showed that Clinton was regarded by 13 percent of Americans as the greatest president in U.S. history.

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.

2011: Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

In 2011, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was finally repealed, thus removing open sexual orientation as a reason for dismissal from the armed forces.

2011: Death of Osama bin Laden

The capture of Osama bin Laden was an objective of the U.S. government during the Clinton presidency (and continued to be until bin Laden's death in 2011).

2012: Speech at Democratic National Convention

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

2012: Clintons' Worth

At the end of 2012, the Clintons were worth between $5 million and $25.5 million. In 2012 the Clintons made between $16 and $17 million, mostly from speaking fees earned by Bill Clinton.

2012: Grammy Nomination for Back to Work Audiobook

In 2012, Bill Clinton received a Grammy nomination for his audiobook Back to Work.

Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy

Check it on Amazon

2012: Nickname Explainer-in-Chief

In 2012, Clinton earned the nickname "Explainer-in-Chief" for his role in campaigning for Obama and his speech at the Democratic National Convention.

June 2013: U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA

In June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the case of United States v. Windsor.

November 20, 2013: Presidential Medal of Freedom

On November 20, 2013, President Obama awarded Bill Clinton the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

2013: Clinton Urges Supreme Court to Overturn DOMA

In 2013, former President Bill Clinton urged the Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

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.

July 2014: Clinton's Net Worth

In July 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported that at the end of 2012, the Clintons were worth between $5 million and $25.5 million, and that in 2012 (the last year they were required to disclose the information) the Clintons made between $16 and $17 million, mostly from speaking fees earned by the former president.

2014: Quinnipiac University poll on best postwar presidents

In 2014, a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll showed that 18 percent of respondents regarded Clinton as the third best president since World War II.

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.

2015: Washington Post poll ranking U.S. presidents

In 2015, a poll by The Washington Post ranked Clinton eighth overall among U.S. presidents, with a rating of 70 percent.

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.

November 2017: Brazile urged Clinton to campaign despite criticism

In November 2017, former DNC interim chair Donna Brazile urged Bill Clinton to campaign during the 2018 midterm elections, in spite of New York U.S. senator Kirsten Gillibrand's recent criticism of the Lewinsky scandal.

2017: Settlement of Virginia Roberts' lawsuit

In 2017, Virginia Roberts' lawsuit against Prince Andrew, in which she said that Clinton had traveled to Little St. James Island in 2002, was settled.

2018: Clinton Addresses Resignation Question

In 2018, Bill Clinton was asked in several interviews about whether he should have resigned due to the Lewinsky scandal, and he stated that he believed he made the right decision in not resigning.

2018: Revisiting of sexual misconduct allegations

In 2018, in light of the #MeToo movement, allegations of sexual misconduct against Clinton have been revisited, with many commentators and Democratic leaders now saying Clinton should have been compelled to resign after the Lewinsky affair.

July 2019: Clinton spokesperson statement

In July 2019, a Clinton spokesperson issued a statement saying Clinton never visited Little St. James Island.

2019: Statement on Epstein

In 2019, Clinton's office released a statement saying that Clinton knew nothing about the crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida or those he had been recently charged with in New York.

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.

October 2021: Treatment for Sepsis

In October 2021, Bill Clinton was treated for sepsis at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center.

November 2022: Clinton's response in Laredo, Texas

In November 2022, when asked by a journalist about his ties with Epstein at a rally in Laredo, Texas, Clinton said "I think the evidence is clear."

December 2022: Positive COVID-19 Test

In December 2022, Bill Clinton tested positive for COVID-19.

March 2024: Report on the 1996 Assassination Attempt

In March 2024, Reuters reported speaking with eight retired secret service agents about the top-secret assassination attempt on President Clinton in the Philippines in November 1996, which remains classified.

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

Check it on Amazon

December 2024: Earliest-serving living former U.S. president

Following Jimmy Carter's death in December 2024, Bill Clinton is the earliest-serving living former U.S. president and the only living president to have served in the 20th century.

December 2024: Hospitalization for Fever

In December 2024, Bill Clinton was hospitalized after developing fever at the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C.

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.