Career Timeline of Bill Weld: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Bill Weld built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

William Weld is an American attorney, businessman, author, and politician best known for serving as the 68th Governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997. A Harvard graduate, he started as legal counsel for the House Judiciary Committee and later became the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts and Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division. Weld prosecuted high-profile corruption cases before resigning due to an ethics scandal surrounding Attorney General Edwin Meese.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

1970: No Republican Governor since 1970

Although Republicans made up under 14% of the Massachusetts electorate and a Republican had not won the gubernatorial election since 1970.

1974: Worked on Nixon Impeachment Inquiry

In 1974, Bill Weld worked as a junior counsel on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry staff during the impeachment process against Richard Nixon.

1975: First Republican governor of Massachusetts since Francis W. Sargent left office in 1975.

In 1975, Francis W. Sargent left office, which led to Weld become the first Republican governor of Massachusetts.

1978: Unsuccessful Run for Attorney General

In 1978, Bill Weld ran unsuccessfully for Massachusetts Attorney General, losing to Democratic incumbent Francis X. Bellotti.

1978: Mary B. Newman chaired Weld's statewide campaign

In 1978, Mary Newman, launched me in politics by serving as chair of my statewide campaign in 1978.

1978: Among the first reasonably well-funded Republican Senate candidates in Massachusetts since Edward Brooke was unseated in 1978.

Weld, who was among the first reasonably well-funded Republican Senate candidates in Massachusetts since Edward Brooke was unseated in 1978.

1981: Appointed U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts

In 1981, Bill Weld was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts.

1983: U.S. Attorney's Office undefeated in corruption cases

In 1983, The Boston Globe noted that the U.S. Attorney's office, under Bill Weld, had not lost a single political corruption case.

1985: Prosecution of Financial Institutions

In 1985, The Boston Globe noted that Bill Weld was a visible figure in the prosecution of financial institutions as U.S. Attorney.

September 15, 1986: Appointed Head of Criminal Division

On September 15, 1986, Bill Weld was promoted to head of the Criminal Division of the Justice Department in Washington.

March 1988: Resigned from Justice Department

In March 1988, Bill Weld resigned from the Justice Department in protest of improper conduct by Attorney General Edwin Meese.

March 29, 1988: End of tenure as head of Criminal Division

Bill Weld served as head of the Criminal Division until March 29, 1988

July 1988: Testified Against Edwin Meese

In July 1988, Bill Weld testified before Congress in favor of a potential prosecution of Edwin Meese.

1988: Joined Hale and Dorr

In 1988, Bill Weld became a senior partner at Hale and Dorr.

1988: Justice Department Review of Kennedy and King Assassination Investigations

In 1988, Bill Weld wrote a memorandum formally reviewing the recommendations of the House Select Committee on Assassinations final report regarding the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., concluding no persuasive evidence supported a conspiracy theory in either assassination.

November 6, 1990: Elected Governor of Massachusetts

On November 6, 1990, Bill Weld was elected as the 68th Governor of Massachusetts.

1990: End of tenure at Hale and Dorr

Bill Weld's tenure at Hale and Dorr ended in 1990

1990: Announced Candidacy for Governor

In 1990, Bill Weld announced his candidacy for Governor of Massachusetts.

1990: Elected Governor of Massachusetts

In 1990, Bill Weld was elected as the Governor of Massachusetts.

1991: Became Governor of Massachusetts

In 1991, Bill Weld became the 68th Governor of Massachusetts, marking a significant milestone in his career.

1991: Unemployment rate started at 9.6%

The state's unemployment rate was 9.6% in 1991.

1992: Pat Buchanan won a delegate while running against an incumbent president.

He won his first and only delegate of the primaries in the Iowa caucus in February, making him the first Republican since Pat Buchanan in 1992 to win a delegate while running against an incumbent president.

1992: Signed executive order to recognize domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples.

In 1992, he signed an executive order to recognize domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples

1993: Signed into law legislation protecting the rights of gay students

In 1993, he signed into law legislation protecting the rights of gay students

1994: Re-elected Governor of Massachusetts

In 1994, Bill Weld was re-elected as Governor of Massachusetts by the largest margin of victory in the state's history.

1994: Re-election as Governor

In 1994, Bill Weld won reelection as governor with 71% of the vote, carrying all but five towns in Massachusetts.

1994: Business climate rating increased

In 1994, a survey of chief executives showed that 83% rated the state's business climate as good or excellent, up from 33% at the beginning of Weld's term.

November 30, 1995: Announced Senate Candidacy

On November 30, 1995, Bill Weld announced that he would challenge incumbent Democratic Senator John Kerry in the 1996 election.

1996: Lost Senate Election

In 1996, Bill Weld was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in Massachusetts, but lost to Democratic incumbent John Kerry.

1996: Brief Presidential Consideration

In 1996, following his landslide victory as governor, Bill Weld briefly considered running for the presidency.

1996: Challenged John Kerry in the 1996 election

On November 30, 1995, Bill Weld announced that he would challenge incumbent Democratic Senator John Kerry in the 1996 election.

1996: Best for any third-party ticket since 1996 with Ross Perot's Reform Party.

They received nearly 4.5 million votes, the highest number for a Libertarian ticket, and the best for any third-party ticket since 1996 with Ross Perot's Reform Party.

July 1997: Nomination Stalled

In July 1997, Bill Weld's nomination to become United States Ambassador to Mexico by President Bill Clinton stalled after Jesse Helms refused to hold a hearing on the nomination.

July 29, 1997: Resigned Governorship

On July 29, 1997, Bill Weld resigned the governorship to campaign for the ambassadorship to Mexico.

September 15, 1997: Withdrew Nomination

On September 15, 1997, after a six-week battle, Bill Weld conceded defeat and withdrew his nomination for ambassadorship.

1997: Partner at McDermott Will & Emery

In 1997, Bill Weld became a partner in the Boston and Manhattan offices of the international law firm McDermott Will & Emery.

1997: Resigned as Governor to Pursue Ambassadorship

In 1997, Bill Weld resigned as governor to focus on his nomination by President Bill Clinton to serve as United States Ambassador to Mexico. However, the nomination was later withdrawn.

1997: Resigned as Governor

In 1997, Bill Weld resigned from his position as Governor of Massachusetts to focus on his nomination as United States Ambassador to Mexico.

December 2000: Joined Leeds Equity Partners

In December 2000, it was announced that Bill Weld would join Leeds Equity Partners, to be renamed Leeds Weld & Co., as a general partner.

2000: Moved to New York

In 2000, after being Governor of Massachusetts, Bill Weld moved to New York.

2000: Speculation of a Presidential Run

In 2000, there was speculation that Bill Weld's actions, such as attacking Jesse Helms, were a way to position himself for a potential run for president.

January 1, 2001: Effective Date with Leeds Weld & Co.

On January 1, 2001, Bill Weld's role as general partner at Leeds Weld & Co. became effective.

April 24, 2005: Talks to Run for Governor

On April 24, 2005, it was reported that Bill Weld was in talks with the New York Republicans to run for Governor of New York in 2006.

August 19, 2005: Announced Candidacy

On August 19, 2005, Bill Weld officially announced his candidacy for Governor of New York.

October 2005: End of Decker College Term

In October 2005, Bill Weld's term as chief executive of Decker College ended as the college was closing under bankruptcy protection.

December 2005: Received Backing

In December 2005, Bill Weld received the backing of the Republican county chairs of New York State.

2005: Reduced Role

In 2005, Weld reduced his role at Leeds Weld & Co. to a senior advisor while considering a run for New York governor.

April 29, 2006: Libertarian Nomination

On April 29, 2006, Bill Weld received the Libertarian Party's nomination for Governor of New York.

June 1, 2006: Faso endorsed over Weld

On June 1, 2006, the Republican State Convention voted 61% to 39% to endorse Faso over Weld.

2006: Run for Governor

Bill Weld run for Governor of New York in 2006.

2006: Rejoined McDermott Will & Emery

In 2006, Bill Weld rejoined McDermott Will & Emery.

2006: Withdrew from NY gubernatorial race

In 2006, Bill Weld sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New York but withdrew from the race when the party endorsed John Faso.

2006: Governor Race Controversy

In 2006, the matter of Decker College closing under bankruptcy protection followed Weld into the race for Governor of New York.

January 8, 2007: Endorsed Mitt Romney

On January 8, 2007, Bill Weld publicly endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for the presidency.

2007: Lobbyist Work

From 2007, Bill Weld was a lobbyist for defense contractor Raytheon, CNX Gas Corporation, Sony Electronics and shoemaker New Balance.

2008: Admitted to the New York Bar

In 2008, Bill Weld was admitted to the bar in New York.

2011: End Lobbyist Work

Bill Weld ended work as a lobbyist in 2011.

2012: Endorsed Romney

In 2012, Bill Weld endorsed Mitt Romney in the presidential election.

2012: Moved to Mintz, Levin

In 2012, Bill Weld moved to the Boston law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo.

2012: Johnson's Prior Run

In 2012, Gary Johnson was the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee.

February 2016: Endorsed John Kasich

In February 2016, Bill Weld endorsed Ohio Governor John Kasich for the Republican presidential nomination.

May 17, 2016: Selection as Running Mate

On May 17, 2016, Gary Johnson announced his selection of Bill Weld to be his choice for running mate.

2016: Joined Liberty Tour

In 2016, Bill Weld joined Our America Initiative's Liberty Tour, speaking alongside other libertarian leaders and activists.

2016: Joined Libertarian Party as VP Nominee

In 2016, Bill Weld left the Republican Party and became the Libertarian Party's vice-presidential running mate with Gary Johnson.

2017: Appeared at Libertarian Party Conventions

Throughout 2017, Bill Weld appeared at several state Libertarian Party conventions.

2018: Appeared at Libertarian Party Conventions

Throughout 2018, Bill Weld appeared at several state Libertarian Party conventions.

January 2019: Changed Party Affiliation

In January 2019, Bill Weld changed his party affiliation back to Republican, in preparation for his presidential run as a Republican.

January 17, 2019: Rejoined the Republican Party

On January 17, 2019, Bill Weld rejoined the Republican Party.

February 14, 2019: Launched Exploratory Committee

On February 14, 2019, Bill Weld launched a presidential exploratory committee for the 2020 Republican primary.

April 15, 2019: Announced Candidacy

On April 15, 2019, Bill Weld formally announced his candidacy for President of the United States.

April 2019: Announced Candidacy Against Trump

In April 2019, Bill Weld announced that he would challenge President Donald Trump in the 2020 Republican primaries.

March 18, 2020: Suspended Presidential Campaign

On March 18, 2020, Bill Weld suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

2020: Republican Primary

Bill Weld launched a presidential exploratory committee for the 2020 Republican primary, against incumbent Republican president Donald Trump.