Childhood and Education Journey of Cory Booker in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Cory Booker. A timeline of key moments.

Cory Booker is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the senior United States senator from New Jersey since 2013. He is the first African-American U.S. senator from New Jersey. Prior to his Senate tenure, Booker served as the 38th mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013, and as a member of the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward from 1998 to 2002.

Sections (6)

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

1936: Birth of Cary Alfred Booker

In 1936, Cary Alfred Booker, Cory Booker's father, was born.

Others born on this day/year

April 27, 1969: Cory Booker Born

On April 27, 1969, Cory Anthony Booker was born. He is an American politician and lawyer who serves as the senior United States senator from New Jersey.

Others born on this day/year

1991: BA in Political Science

In 1991, Cory Booker graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

1991: BA from Stanford University

In 1991, Cory Booker received a BA from Stanford University.

1992: Booker Admitted to "Hating Gays"

In 1992, Booker admitted in The Stanford Daily column that as a teenager, he had "hated gays."

1992: Booker wrote about a sexual encounter in The Stanford Daily Column

In 1992, Booker wrote in his The Stanford Daily column about a sexual encounter during his teenage years, his changed attitude toward sex, and messages he received about sex when he was young. Booker described an incident where he groped a drunk friend at a party when he was fifteen. He also discussed his disgust with sexist comments and his work as a peer counselor with victims of rape.

1992: MA in Sociology

In 1992, Cory Booker graduated from Stanford University with a Master of Arts in sociology.

1992: Booker Became a Vegetarian

In 1992, while a student at Oxford University, Booker became a vegetarian.

1994: Degree in United States history

In 1994, Cory Booker earned a degree in United States history at The Queen's College, Oxford.

1997: Juris Doctor from Yale Law School

In 1997, Cory Booker obtained his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

1998: Booker Lived in Brick Towers

From 1998, Booker lived in Brick Towers, a troubled housing complex in Newark's Central Ward.

June 2006: Assassination Plot Foiled

In late June 2006, before Cory Booker took office, New Jersey investigators foiled a plot to assassinate him led by Bloods gang leaders inside four New Jersey state prisons.

November 2006: Booker Moved to Hawthorne Avenue

In November 2006, Booker left his apartment in Brick Towers for the top unit in a three-story rental on Hawthorne Avenue in Newark's South Ward.

2006: Start of Crime Reduction

From 2006 to 2008, Newark led the nation in violent crime reduction during Cory Booker's mayoralty.

2008: End of Crime Reduction

From 2006 to 2008, Newark led the nation in violent crime reduction during Cory Booker's mayoralty.

May 2009: Honorary Doctorate from New Jersey Institute of Technology and Brandeis University

In May 2009, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the Newark-based New Jersey Institute of Technology and an honorary doctorate from Brandeis University.

2009: Feud with Conan O'Brien

In the fall of 2009, Cory Booker engaged in a satirical on-air and YouTube feud with Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien, which ended with donations to Newark charities.

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March 2010: Murder-Free Month in Newark

March 2010 marked Newark's first murder-free month in over 44 years during Cory Booker's mayoralty.

July 2010: Met Mark Zuckerberg

In July 2010, Cory Booker attended a dinner at a conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he was seated with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

September 2010: Zuckerberg Donated $100 Million

In September 2010, Mark Zuckerberg announced that he was donating $100 million to the Newark school system due to his conversation with Cory Booker.

December 2010: Furloughs and Pay Cuts Implemented

From July through December 2010, Cory Booker's administration imposed one-day-a-month furloughs for all non-uniformed employees, as well as 2% pay cuts for managers and directors earning more than $100,000 a year.

December 2010: Honorary Doctorate from Yeshiva University

In December 2010, Cory Booker received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Yeshiva University for his vision for Newark.

December 28, 2010: Shoveled Constituent's Driveway

On December 28, 2010, Cory Booker gained national attention when he responded to a constituent's Twitter request to shovel her elderly father's driveway.

2010: Brick Towers Demolished and Replaced

In 2010, Brick Towers was demolished, and a new mixed-income development was built there.

May 13, 2011: New York Law School Commencement Address

On May 13, 2011, Cory Booker delivered the commencement address to New York Law School graduates at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.

May 2011: Honorary Doctorate and Commencement Address at University of Rhode Island

In May 2011, Cory Booker received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and delivered a commencement address at the University of Rhode Island.

June 2011: Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Williams College

In June 2011, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of laws degree for the urban transformation of Newark and served as that year's commencement speaker at Williams College.

April 12, 2012: Saved Woman from House Fire

On April 12, 2012, Cory Booker saved a woman from a house fire, suffering smoke inhalation and second-degree burns on his hands in the process.

May 2012: Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Bard College

In May 2012, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Bard College and gave the commencement speech.

June 17, 2012: Stanford University Commencement Address

On June 17, 2012, Cory Booker delivered a commencement address to Stanford University graduates at Stanford Stadium, also receiving an honorary degree.

October 2012: Opened Home After Hurricane Sandy

In late October 2012, after Hurricane Sandy, Cory Booker invited Newarkers without electricity and similar services to eat and sleep in his home.

2012: Formation of Waywire

In 2012, Cory Booker and tech executives formed Waywire, a company focused on video sharing technology, with investments from figures like Oprah Winfrey and Eric Schmidt.

January 2013: Rescued Dog from Freezing Temperatures

In January 2013, Cory Booker rescued a dog from freezing temperatures.

February 2013: Helped with Marriage Proposal

In February 2013, Cory Booker helped a nervous constituent propose to his girlfriend after responding to a Twitter post.

May 2013: Commencement Address at Washington University in St. Louis

In May 2013, Cory Booker gave the commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis and received an honorary doctorate of law.

July 2013: Rescued Abandoned Dog

In July 2013, Cory Booker rescued a dog that had been abandoned in a cage.

July 2013: Progressive Politics Stance

In July 2013, during a Salon interview, Cory Booker stated that he aligned with progressive politics.

September 2013: Self-Identification as a Democrat and American

In September 2013, when asked by The Grio if he considered himself a progressive, Cory Booker stated that he identified as a Democrat and an American.

2013: Booker Refused to Address Gay Rumors

In 2013, Booker explained that he generally refused to address rumors about him being gay on principle.

2013: Named Top Bachelor

In 2013, Cory Booker was named one of Town & Country's "Top 40 Bachelors".

2013: Booker Lived in Lincoln Park

Since 2013, Booker has lived in a townhouse he owns in the Lincoln Park section of Newark's Central Ward.

May 16, 2014: Commencement Speech at Ramapo College of New Jersey

On May 16, 2014, Cory Booker gave the commencement speech at Ramapo College of New Jersey at the IZOD Center.

2014: Booker Began Practicing a Vegan Diet

In 2014, Booker began practicing a vegan diet and expressed his vegan ethical philosophy and advocacy for animals.

June 2016: Booker Worshipped at Metropolitan Baptist Church

As of June 2016, Booker worshiped at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark.

2017: Testified against Jeff Sessions

In 2017, Cory Booker became the first senator to ever testify against another senator during attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions's confirmation hearing.

March 2019: Relationship with Rosario Dawson Confirmed

In March 2019, actress Rosario Dawson confirmed that she was in a relationship with Cory Booker.

March 2020: Endorsement of Joe Biden

In March 2020, Cory Booker endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president.

February 2022: End of Relationship with Rosario Dawson

In February 2022, Cory Booker's relationship with actress Rosario Dawson ended.

November 2022: Booker Wrote Letter of Support for Elizabeth Holmes

In November 2022, Booker wrote a letter of support and leniency for Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes to the federal judge assigned to sentence her.

April 1, 2025: Longest Speech in U.S. Senate History

From March 31 to April 1, 2025, Cory Booker delivered the longest speech in U.S. Senate history, lasting 25 hours and five minutes, in protest of the second presidency of Donald Trump.