Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Hillary Clinton
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Hillary Clinton made an impact.
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is a prominent American politician, lawyer, and diplomat. She served as the 67th United States Secretary of State under President Barack Obama, a U.S. Senator for New York, and First Lady during Bill Clinton's presidency. As a member of the Democratic Party, Clinton made history as the first woman to secure a major party's presidential nomination in 2016 and the only woman to win the popular vote in a U.S. presidential election. Despite her popular vote victory, she lost the Electoral College to Donald Trump. Notably, she remains the only First Lady to have pursued elected office.
1955: First Visit to Burma By a U.S. Secretary of State since 1955
In December 2011, Hillary Clinton staged the first visit to Burma by a U.S. secretary of state since 1955. During this visit, she met with Burmese leaders as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and sought to support the 2011 Burmese democratic reforms.
1973: Published Scholarly Article
In late 1973, Hillary Rodham's first scholarly article, "Children Under the Law", was published in the Harvard Educational Review. The article discussed the new children's rights movement.
August 1974: Moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas
In August 1974, Hillary Rodham moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and became one of two female faculty members at the University of Arkansas School of Law. She followed her heart to Arkansas instead of staying in Washington, where career prospects were brighter, to be with Bill Clinton.
August 1974: Resignation of Richard Nixon
In August 1974, the work of the House Committee on the Judiciary, where Hillary Rodham advised during the Watergate scandal, culminated with the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
1974: Bill Clinton lost Arkansas congressional race
In 1974, Bill Clinton lost an Arkansas congressional race to incumbent Republican John Paul Hammerschmidt.
November 1976: Bill Clinton elected Arkansas attorney general
In November 1976, Bill Clinton was elected Arkansas attorney general, and the couple moved to the state capital of Little Rock.
1976: Campaign organizer for Jimmy Carter
In 1976, Hillary Rodham temporarily relocated to Indianapolis to work as an Indiana state campaign organizer for Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign.
February 1977: Joined Rose Law Firm
In February 1977, Hillary Rodham joined the Rose Law Firm and specialized in patent infringement and intellectual property law while working pro bono in child advocacy.
1977: Co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
In 1977, Hillary Clinton co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
1977: Appointed to board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Hillary Rodham to the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation.
November 1978: Bill Clinton elected governor of Arkansas
In November 1978, Bill Clinton was elected as governor of Arkansas.
1978: Served on the Legal Services Corporation
From 1978 until the end of 1981, Hillary Rodham served on the board of the Legal Services Corporation.
1978: Cattle futures trading
In 1978, Hillary Clinton engaged in cattle futures trading, which later became a subject of controversy. Allegations arose that she engaged in a conflict of interest, but no formal investigation was made, and she was never charged with any wrongdoing.
January 1979: Became First Lady of Arkansas
In January 1979, Hillary Rodham became the First Lady of Arkansas, following her husband's election as governor.
1979: Appointed chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee
In 1979, Bill Clinton appointed Hillary Rodham as the chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee. She secured federal funds to expand medical facilities in Arkansas's poorest areas without affecting doctors' fees.
1979: First Lady of Arkansas
In 1979, Hillary Clinton became the First Lady of Arkansas.
1979: Cattle futures trading
In 1979, Hillary Clinton continued cattle futures trading, which later became a subject of controversy. Allegations arose that she engaged in a conflict of interest, but no formal investigation was made, and she was never charged with any wrongdoing.
1979: Made full partner in Rose Law Firm
In 1979, Hillary Rodham became the first woman to be made a full partner in Rose Law Firm.
November 1980: Bill Clinton lost his bid for re-election
In November 1980, Bill Clinton was defeated in his bid for re-election as governor.
1980: Served as chair of the board
From mid-1978 to mid-1980, Hillary Rodham served as the first female chair of the Legal Services Corporation board.
1981: End of term at Legal Services Corporation
Hillary Rodham's position at the Legal Services Corporation ended in 1981.
1981: End of First Lady of Arkansas Tenure
In 1981, Hillary Clinton's first tenure as the First Lady of Arkansas concluded.
1981: End of first term as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1981, Hillary Rodham's first term as First Lady of Arkansas ended.
1982: Joined the board of directors of the New World Foundation
From 1982 to 1988, Hillary Clinton was on the board of directors, sometimes as chair, of the New World Foundation, which funded a variety of New Left interest groups.
1982: Bill Clinton returned to the governorship of Arkansas
In 1982, Bill Clinton returned to the governorship of Arkansas after winning the election. Hillary began to use the name "Hillary Clinton" to assuage the concerns of Arkansas voters.
1983: Returns as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1983, Hillary Clinton once again became the First Lady of Arkansas.
1983: Named chair of the Arkansas Education Standards Committee
In 1983, Hillary Clinton was named chair of the Arkansas Education Standards Committee. She worked to reform the state's public education system.
1983: Started second term as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1983, Hillary Rodham began her second term as First Lady of Arkansas, following Bill Clinton's re-election as governor.
1985: Joined corporate board of directors of TCBY
From 1985 to 1992, Hillary Clinton held positions on the corporate board of directors of TCBY.
1985: Introduced Arkansas's Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth
In 1985, Hillary Clinton introduced Arkansas's Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth, a program that helps parents work with their children in preschool preparedness and literacy.
1986: Joined corporate board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores
From 1986 to 1992, Hillary Clinton held positions on the corporate board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores. She was the first female member on Wal-Mart's board, following pressure on chairman Sam Walton to name a woman to it.
1986: Accusations of conflict of interest
In 1986, Bill Clinton's Republican opponent in his gubernatorial reelection campaign accused the Clintons of conflict of interest because Rose Law did state business.
1988: Joined the board of the Arkansas Children's Hospital's Legal Services
From 1988–1992, Hillary Clinton was chairman of the board of the Children's Defense Fund and on the board of the Arkansas Children's Hospital's Legal Services.
1988: Named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America
In 1988, Hillary Clinton was named by The National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America.
1990: Joined corporate board of directors of Lafarge
From 1990 to 1992, Hillary Clinton held positions on the corporate board of directors of Lafarge.
1990: Considered running for governor
In 1990, Hillary Clinton considered running for governor when Bill Clinton thought about not running again. Private polls were unfavorable, and he ran and was reelected.
1991: Named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America
In 1991, Hillary Clinton was again named by The National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America.
August 1992: The Lady Macbeth of Little Rock
Beginning with Daniel Wattenberg's August 1992 The American Spectator article "The Lady Macbeth of Little Rock", Hillary's own past ideological and ethical record came under attack from conservatives.
1992: End of term on corporate boards
In 1992, Hillary Clinton ended her term on the corporate board of directors of TCBY, Wal-Mart Stores, and Lafarge.
1992: Sustained national attention
In 1992, Hillary Clinton received sustained national attention for the first time when her husband became a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. Before the New Hampshire primary, tabloid publications printed allegations that Bill Clinton had engaged in an extramarital affair with Gennifer Flowers.
1992: End of Second Tenure as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1992, Hillary Clinton's second tenure as the First Lady of Arkansas came to an end.
January 1993: Became First Lady of the United States
In January 1993, Hillary Rodham Clinton became the First Lady of the United States when Bill Clinton took office as president. She was the first in this role to have a postgraduate degree and her own professional career.
January 1993: Named chair of Task Force on National Health Care Reform
In January 1993, President Clinton named Hillary to chair a task force on National Health Care Reform, leading to the Clinton health care plan.
April 1994: Approval Ratings Fell
In April 1994, Hillary Clinton's approval ratings fell to 44 percent.
September 1994: The proposal was abandoned
In September 1994, Hillary Clinton's National Health Care Reform proposal was abandoned after failing to gather enough support for a floor vote in either the House or the Senate.
1994: Healthcare plan contributed to the Democrats' defeat
In 1994, the Republican Party negatively highlighted the Clinton health care plan in their campaign for the midterm elections and saw strong success. Analysts and pollsters found the healthcare plan to be a major factor in the Democrats' defeat, especially among independent voters.
September 1995: Speech at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing
In September 1995, Hillary Clinton delivered a speech at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, advocating for women's rights as human rights and denouncing practices that abused women worldwide, including in China.
1995: Publication of "Talking It Over" newspaper column begins
In 1995, Hillary Clinton began publishing a weekly syndicated newspaper column titled "Talking It Over", focusing on her experiences and the experiences of women, children, and families she met during her travels around the world.
1995: Beijing Conference Follow-Up
In 1995, Hillary Clinton led the No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project, a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to gather and study data on the progress of women and girls around the world since the Beijing conference.
January 1996: Book tour for "It Takes a Village"
In January 1996, Hillary Clinton embarked on a ten-city book tour and made numerous television appearances to promote her book, "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us." During this time, she faced questions regarding her involvement in the Whitewater and Travelgate controversies.
January 26, 1996: Testimony before federal grand jury
On January 26, 1996, Hillary Clinton became the first spouse of a U.S. president to be subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury as part of the Whitewater controversy investigation.
June 1996: Discovery of improper White House access to FBI background reports
In June 1996, the "Filegate" scandal emerged, involving improper White House access to hundreds of FBI background reports on former Republican White House employees. Accusations were made that Hillary Clinton had requested these files, but a final report later found no substantial evidence of her involvement or misconduct.
1996: Supported Welfare Reform Act
In 1996, Hillary Clinton decided to support the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, which became the best political compromise available.
1996: Publication of 'It Takes a Village'
In 1996, Hillary Clinton identified as a New Democrat like her husband in her book It Takes a Village, describing herself as 'middle of the road'.
1997: Initiated Adoption and Safe Families Act
In 1997, Hillary Clinton initiated and shepherded the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which she regarded as her greatest accomplishment as the first lady.
1997: Promoted State Children's Health Insurance Program
In 1997, Hillary Clinton played a leading role in promoting the creation of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
1997: Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album
In 1997, Hillary Clinton received the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for the audio recording of her book "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us".
November 1998: Urged to run for Senate
In November 1998, after Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan announced his retirement, Hillary Clinton was urged by prominent Democratic figures to run for his open seat in the 2000 Senate election.
1998: Publication of "Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets"
In 1998, Hillary Clinton published the book "Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets" during her time as First Lady.
September 1999: Purchase of home in Chappaqua, New York
In September 1999, after deciding to run for the U.S. Senate seat in New York, the Clintons purchased a home in Chappaqua, New York.
1999: Promoted Adoption and Safe Families Act and the Foster Care Independence Act
In 1999, Hillary Clinton played a leading role in promoting the creation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act and the Foster Care Independence Act.
1999: Supported NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
In 1999, Hillary Clinton supported the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
1999: Passage of the Foster Care Independence Act
In 1999, Hillary Clinton was instrumental in the passage of the Foster Care Independence Act, which doubled federal monies for teenagers aging out of foster care.
May 2000: Giuliani withdraws from Senate race
In May 2000, Rudy Giuliani withdrew from the New York Senate race due to health issues and personal matters, leaving Hillary Clinton to face Rick Lazio in the election.
November 7, 2000: Election to the U.S. Senate
On November 7, 2000, Hillary Clinton won the election to become a U.S. Senator for New York, defeating Rick Lazio with 55 percent of the vote.
2000: "It Takes a Village" sales figures
By 2000, Hillary Clinton's book, "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us", had sold 450,000 copies in hardcover and another 200,000 in paperback.
2000: Publication of "An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History"
In 2000, Hillary Clinton published the book "An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History" during her time as First Lady.
2000: Opposition to same-sex marriage
In 2000, Hillary Clinton was against same-sex marriage altogether, marking a different position than her later stance.
2000: Elected to U.S. Senate
In 2000, Hillary Clinton was first elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first female senator from New York.
2000: End of "Talking It Over" newspaper column
In 2000, Hillary Clinton's weekly syndicated newspaper column titled "Talking It Over" ended. The column had focused on her experiences and the experiences of women, children, and families she met during her travels around the world.
2000: Final report on Filegate issued
In 2000, the final Independent Counsel report on the Filegate controversy found no substantial or credible evidence that Hillary Clinton had any role or showed any misconduct in the matter.
2000: Final Whitewater report issued
In 2000, the final report on the Whitewater controversy was issued, stating that there was insufficient evidence that either Bill or Hillary Clinton had engaged in criminal wrongdoing.
2000: Fundraising groups formed to oppose Senate run
When Hillary Clinton ran for Senate in 2000, several fundraising groups such as Save Our Senate and the Emergency Committee to Stop Hillary Rodham Clinton sprang up to oppose her.
January 3, 2001: Sworn in as U.S. Senator
On January 3, 2001, Hillary Clinton was sworn in as a U.S. Senator for New York. From January 3 to 20, she held the titles of First Lady and Senator simultaneously – a first in U.S. history.
October 2001: Vote for the USA Patriot Act
In October 2001, Hillary Clinton voted for the USA Patriot Act following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
2001: U.S. Senator for New York
In 2001, Hillary Clinton became a U.S. Senator representing New York, a position she held until 2009.
2001: Began Senate term
In 2001, Hillary Clinton began her term as a U.S. Senator, maintaining a low public profile, building relationships with senators from both parties, forging alliances with religiously inclined senators, and becoming a member of several Senate committees and commissions.
2001: Support for U.S. military action in Afghanistan
In 2001, Hillary Clinton strongly supported the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, citing the opportunity to combat terrorism and improve the lives of Afghan women.
2001: Vote against Bush's tax cut package
In 2001, Hillary Clinton voted against President Bush's Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act.
2001: Afterword to "Beatrice's Goat"
In 2001, Hillary Clinton wrote an afterword to the children's book "Beatrice's Goat".
2001: Controversy over gifts sent to the White House
In early 2001, a controversy arose regarding gifts sent to the White House, with questions over whether furnishings were White House or personal property. The gifts were shipped to the Clintons' private residence during Bill Clinton's last year in office.
October 2002: Vote in favor of Iraq War Resolution
In October 2002, Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution, authorizing President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq.
October 2002: Vote in favor of military force against Iraq
In October 2002, as a Senator, Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, later expressing regret for the vote.
2002: Served on the Senate Committee on Budget
In 2001 and 2002, Hillary Clinton served on the Senate Committee on Budget.
2003: Chaired Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
From 2003 to 2007, Hillary Clinton chaired the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee.
2003: Served on the Senate Committee on Armed Services
From 2003 to 2009, Hillary Clinton served on the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
2003: Liberal voting record analysis
From 2003, The Almanac of American Politics rated Hillary Clinton's votes as liberal on economics, social issues, and foreign policy.
2003: Formative role in founding Center for American Progress
In 2003, Hillary Clinton played a formative role in conversations that led to the founding of John Podesta's Center for American Progress.
2003: Publication of "Living History"
In 2003, Simon & Schuster released Hillary Clinton's memoir "Living History". The book set a first-week sales record for a nonfiction work, selling over one million copies in the first month, and was translated into twelve foreign languages.
2003: Preparation for Potential Candidacy
Since at least early 2003, Hillary Clinton had been preparing for a potential candidacy for U.S. president.
June 2004: Unveiling of White House portrait
In June 2004, Hillary Clinton's official White House portrait, painted by Simmie Knox, was unveiled in a ceremony at the White House.
November 2004: Clinton announces Senate reelection bid
In November 2004, Hillary Clinton announced that she would seek a second term in the Senate.
2004: Advised Media Matters for America
In 2004, Hillary Clinton advised David Brock's Media Matters for America.
2004: Vote against the Federal Marriage Amendment
In 2004, Hillary Clinton voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment that sought to prohibit same-sex marriage.
2004: National Journal and other analyses of Senate votes
In 2004, National Journal's study assigned Clinton a rating of 30 on the political spectrum. A separate analysis by political scientists also found her likely to be the sixth-to-eighth-most liberal senator.
February 2005: Visit to Iraq
In February 2005, Hillary Clinton visited Iraq, observing that the insurgency had failed to disrupt democratic elections and that parts of the country were functioning well. She also noted the strain on military forces and co-introduced legislation to increase the size of the U.S. Army.
2005: Call for investigation of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
In 2005, Hillary Clinton called for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how hidden sex scenes appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and she introduced the Family Entertainment Protection Act with Senators Joe Lieberman and Evan Bayh.
2005: Vote against John Roberts' confirmation
In 2005, Hillary Clinton voted against the confirmation of John Roberts as Chief Justice of the United States.
2005: Concerns with the USA Patriot Act Reauthorization Conference Report
In 2005, as the USA Patriot Act was up for renewal, Hillary Clinton expressed concerns with the USA Patriot Act Reauthorization Conference Report regarding civil liberties.
March 2006: Vote in favor of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005
In March 2006, Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005.
November 7, 2006: Clinton wins Senate election
On November 7, 2006, Hillary Clinton won the Senate election with 67 percent of the vote, defeating John Spencer and carrying all but four of New York's sixty-two counties.
2006: Support for state decisions on same-sex marriage
In 2006, Hillary Clinton stated that she would support a state's decision to permit same-sex marriages, but opposed federally amending the Constitution to permit same-sex marriage.
2006: Vote against the Federal Marriage Amendment
In 2006, Hillary Clinton voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment that sought to prohibit same-sex marriage.
2006: Vote against Samuel Alito's confirmation
In 2006, Hillary Clinton voted against the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court, filibustering the latter.
2006: National Journal ranking of senators
In 2006, National Journal ranked Hillary Clinton as the 32nd-most liberal senator.
January 20, 2007: Clinton Announces Presidential Exploratory Committee
On January 20, 2007, Hillary Clinton announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee for the 2008 United States presidential election, stating: "I'm in and I'm in to win."
March 2007: Call for Gonzales's resignation
In March 2007, Hillary Clinton called for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign in response to the dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy.
April 2007: Clintons Liquidate Blind Trust
In April 2007, Bill and Hillary Clinton liquidated their blind trust to avoid ethical conflicts or political embarrassments as Hillary undertook her presidential race.
September 2007: Response to Petraeus Report
In September 2007, Hillary Clinton responded to General David Petraeus's Report to Congress on the Situation in Iraq by expressing skepticism, stating that the reports required a "willing suspension of disbelief."
2007: Clinton's Earnings and Donations
For the overall period 2007–14, the Clintons earned almost $141 million, paid some $56 million in federal and state taxes and donated about $15 million to charity.
2007: End of Tenure as Chair of Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
In 2007, Hillary Clinton's tenure as chair of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee came to an end.
2007: National Journal ranking of senators
In 2007, National Journal ranked Hillary Clinton as the 16th-most liberal senator.
2007: Opposition to same-sex marriage, support for civil unions
While running for president in 2007, Hillary Clinton reiterated her opposition to same-sex marriage, expressing her support of civil unions.
January 2008: Impact of 'choked up moment' on gender discussion
Following Hillary Clinton's "choked up moment" in January 2008, both The New York Times and Newsweek found that discussion of gender's role in the campaign had moved into the national political discourse.
June 3, 2008: Obama becomes presumptive nominee
Following the final primaries on June 3, 2008, Barack Obama gained enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee.
November 2008: Consideration for Secretary of State
In November 2008, President-elect Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton discussed the possibility of her serving as secretary of state in his administration. Clinton initially hesitated but later accepted the position.
December 2008: Saxbe fix passed
In December 2008, a Saxbe fix was passed and signed into law to allow for Hillary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State.
2008: Support for financial system bailout
As the 2008 financial crisis reached a peak, Hillary Clinton supported the proposed bailout of the U.S. financial system, voting in favor of the $700 billion law that created the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
2008: Presidential Election
Hillary Clinton formed an exploratory committee in 2007 for the United States presidential election of 2008.
2008: Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary
In 2008, Hillary Clinton placed third in the Iowa Democratic caucus but gained a surprise win in the New Hampshire primary, becoming the first woman to win a major American party's presidential primary for delegate selection.
2008: Presidential bid considerations
In 2008, there were concerns about Hillary Clinton's spending during her Senate reelection campaign. Some supporters worried she did not leave more funds for a potential presidential bid.
January 13, 2009: Confirmation hearings begin
On January 13, 2009, confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee began for Hillary Clinton's nomination as Secretary of State.
January 21, 2009: Clinton confirmed as Secretary of State
On January 21, 2009, Hillary Clinton was confirmed as Secretary of State by the Senate and resigned from the Senate, becoming the first former first lady to be a member of the United States Cabinet.
March 2009: "Reset button" with Russia
In March 2009, Hillary Clinton presented Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with a "reset button" symbolizing U.S. attempts to rebuild ties with Russia.
October 2009: Signing of Turkish-Armenian accord
In October 2009, Hillary Clinton intervened and secured the final signing of a Turkish–Armenian accord that established diplomatic relations and opened the border between the two long-hostile nations.
2009: Secretary of State
In 2009, Hillary Clinton became the 67th United States Secretary of State in the Barack Obama administration, serving until 2013.
2009: Resigned from Senate to Become Secretary of State
In 2009, Hillary Clinton resigned from the Senate to become Barack Obama's Secretary of State.
2009: Afghanistan Surge Debate
In 2009, Hillary Clinton sided with the military's recommendations for a maximal "Afghanistan surge", recommending 40,000 troops and no public deadline for withdrawal.
2009: End of term on Senate Committees
In 2009, Hillary Clinton's term ended on several Senate Committees including the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging.
January 2010: Internet as key element of American foreign policy
In January 2010, Hillary Clinton drew analogies between the Iron Curtain and the free and unfree Internet, defining the Internet as a key element of American foreign policy.
July 2010: Visit to South Korea
In July 2010, Hillary Clinton visited South Korea and successfully worked to convince SAE-A, an apparel subcontractor, to invest in Haiti.
2010: Diplomatic isolation of Iran
Beginning in 2010, Hillary Clinton helped organize a diplomatic isolation and international sanctions regime against Iran.
2010: First Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review issued
In late 2010, Hillary Clinton issued the first Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, calling for the U.S. to lead through "civilian power" and prioritizing the empowerment of women throughout the world.
March 2011: Indication of Not Serving Second Term
As early as March 2011, Hillary Clinton indicated she was not interested in serving a second term as secretary of state should Obama be re-elected in 2012.
April 2011: Deliberations over raid into Pakistan against Osama bin Laden
In April 2011, Hillary Clinton was among President Obama's advisors who argued in favor of ordering U.S. special forces to conduct a raid into Pakistan against Osama bin Laden, saying the importance of getting bin Laden outweighed the risks to the U.S. relationship with Pakistan.
August 2011: Hailing Military Intervention as Smart Power
In August 2011, Hillary Clinton hailed the ongoing multinational military intervention in Libya and the initial U.S. response towards the Syrian Civil War as examples of smart power in action. She viewed "smart power" as the strategy for asserting U.S. leadership and values.
August 2011: Syrian Civil War
In August 2011, during the Syrian Civil War, Clinton and the Obama administration called for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to resign from the presidency as government violence allegedly rose. The administration joined several countries in delivering non-lethal assistance to rebels and humanitarian groups in Syria.
December 2011: Advocating for Gay Rights and Visiting Burma
In December 2011, Hillary Clinton stated before the United Nations Human Rights Council that "Gay rights are human rights". Around the same time, she staged the first visit to Burma by a U.S. secretary of state since 1955 to support the 2011 Burmese democratic reforms.
2011: Advocated Military Intervention in Libya
In 2011, Hillary Clinton responded to the Arab Spring by advocating the military intervention in Libya.
2011: Appointed Honorary Founding Chair
In 2011, Hillary Clinton was appointed the Honorary Founding Chair of the Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University.
2011: Response to Egyptian Protests
In 2011, the Egyptian protests posed a challenging foreign policy crisis. Hillary Clinton's public response evolved from assessing the Mubarak government as "stable" to condemning violence against protesters.
May 2012: NDTV Interview
In May 2012, Hillary Clinton claimed in an interview on NDTV that she would not seek the presidency again.
September 11, 2012: Attack on U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi
On September 11, 2012, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked, resulting in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. The attack and subsequent explanations became politically controversial.
December 2012: Obama Nominates John Kerry
In December 2012, following Obama's re-election, Obama nominated Senator John Kerry to be Hillary Clinton's successor as secretary of state.
2012: Plan to Arm Syrian Rebels
During mid-2012, Hillary Clinton and CIA Director David Petraeus formed a plan to strengthen the Syrian opposition by arming and training vetted groups of Syrian rebels. The proposal was rejected by White House officials who were reluctant to become entangled in the conflict.
2012: Favored arming Syria's rebel fighters
In 2012, Hillary Clinton favored arming Syria's rebel fighters and called for the removal of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
2012: Decline in Bilateral Relations
In 2012, bilateral relations between the U.S. and Russia declined considerably after Dmitry Medvedev's presidency ended and Vladimir Putin returned to the Russian presidency.
2012: Attack on U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi
On September 11, 2012, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked, resulting in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. The attack and subsequent explanations became politically controversial.
January 23, 2013: Testimony Regarding Benghazi Attack
On January 23, 2013, Hillary Clinton testified to congressional foreign affairs committees regarding the Benghazi attack. She defended her actions but said she had no direct role in specific discussions regarding consulate security.
February 1, 2013: Last Day as Secretary of State
February 1, 2013, marked Hillary Clinton's last day as U.S. Secretary of State. Analysts noted her focus on less tangible goals with lasting effects and criticized her for accepting millions in donations from foreign governments to the Clinton Foundation during her tenure.
2013: First expression of support for national right to same-sex marriage
2013 marked the first time that Hillary Clinton expressed support for a national right to same-sex marriage, evolving her stance on the issue.
2013: Joins Clinton Foundation
In 2013, Hillary Clinton and her daughter joined her husband as named members of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation. She focused on early childhood development efforts, including an initiative called Too Small to Fail and a $600 million initiative to encourage the enrollment of girls in secondary schools worldwide.
2013: End of Term as Secretary of State
In 2013, Hillary Clinton's term as the 67th United States Secretary of State ended, concluding her service in the Barack Obama administration, which began in 2009.
May 2014: Creation of House Select Committee on Benghazi
In May 2014, the Republican-led House Select Committee on Benghazi was created to investigate the 2012 attack. The committee was criticized as partisan.
November 2014: House Intelligence Committee Report on Benghazi
In November 2014, the House Intelligence Committee issued a report that concluded there had been no wrongdoing in the administration's response to the Benghazi attack.
2014: Expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict
In 2014, Hillary Clinton expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.
2014: Publishes 'Hard Choices'
In 2014, Hillary Clinton published her second memoir, Hard Choices, which focused on her time as secretary of state.
2014: Statement on unaccompanied children crossing the border
In 2014, Hillary Clinton stated that unaccompanied children crossing the border "should be sent back".
2014: Hard Choices Autobiography
In 2014, Hillary Clinton wrote in her autobiography Hard Choices that she had not decided whether to seek the presidency again.
March 2015: Speaking Engagements Earnings
For the fifteen months ending in March 2015, Hillary Clinton earned over $11 million from her speeches.
April 12, 2015: Announces Presidential Candidacy
On April 12, 2015, Hillary Clinton formally announced her candidacy for the presidency in the 2016 election.
April 2015: Resigns from Clinton Foundation Board
In April 2015, Hillary Clinton resigned from the board of the Clinton Foundation as she began her presidential campaign. The foundation then announced it would accept new foreign governmental donations from six Western nations only.
July 15, 2015: Inspector General's Report on Emails
On July 15, 2015, the inspector generals of the State Department and the intelligence community stated that their review of Hillary Clinton's emails found information that was classified when sent and should not have been transmitted via an unclassified system.
July 2015: 'Hard Choices' Sales Update
As of July 2015, Hillary Clinton's book, Hard Choices, had sold about 280,000 copies.
September 2015: Slump in favorability ratings
By September 2015, with her 2016 presidential campaign underway and beset by continued reports regarding her private email usage at the State Department, Hillary Clinton's favorability ratings had slumped to some of her lowest levels ever.
October 22, 2015: Testimony Before Benghazi Committee
On October 22, 2015, Hillary Clinton testified before the House Select Committee on Benghazi. She was widely seen as emerging largely unscathed from the hearing.
2015: Re-entry into elective politics and political assessments
After Hillary Clinton reentered elective politics in 2015, On the Issues placed her in the "Left Liberal" region. Crowdpac gave her a 6.5L rating on a left-right scale.
2015: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
By 2015, Hillary Clinton helped to organize a regime of international sanctions against Iran in an effort to force it to curtail its nuclear program, which eventually led to the multinational Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
February 4, 2016: Email Controversy Remarks During Debate
During a Democratic debate with Bernie Sanders on February 4, 2016, Hillary Clinton said, "I never sent or received any classified material—they are retroactively classifying it," regarding the email controversy.
February 2016: Retroactive Classification of Emails
In February 2016, The New York Times reported that nearly 2,100 emails stored on Hillary Clinton's server were retroactively marked classified by the State Department. Additionally, the intelligence community's inspector general wrote Congress to say that some of the emails "contained classified State Department information when originated".
March 2016: Detailed economic plan laid out
In March 2016, Hillary Clinton laid out a detailed economic plan, which The New York Times called "optimistic" and "wide-ranging", based on inclusive capitalism.
May 2016: State Department Criticizes Email Use
In May 2016, the inspector general of the State Department criticized Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of state, stating that she had not requested permission for this and would not have received it if she had asked.
June 5, 2016: Presumptive Nominee
By June 5, 2016, Hillary Clinton had earned enough pledged delegates and supportive superdelegates for the media to consider her the presumptive nominee.
June 2016: Release of Benghazi Committee Final Reports
In June 2016, the House Select Committee on Benghazi issued competing final reports. The Republican report offered no evidence of culpability by Hillary Clinton.
July 2, 2016: Statement on Classified Material
On July 2, 2016, Hillary Clinton stated: "Let me repeat what I have repeated for many months now, I never received nor sent any material that was marked classified."
July 5, 2016: FBI Concludes Investigation
On July 5, 2016, the FBI concluded its investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.
July 6, 2016: Email Probe Closed Without Charges
On July 6, 2016, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch confirmed that the probe into Hillary Clinton's use of private email servers would be closed without criminal charges.
July 26, 2016: Nominated at Democratic National Convention
On July 26, 2016, Hillary Clinton was formally nominated at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, becoming the first woman to be nominated for president by a major U.S. political party.
October 28, 2016: FBI Reopens Investigation into Clinton Emails
On October 28, 2016, just two weeks before the election, James Comey notified Congress that the FBI had begun looking into newly discovered Clinton emails.
November 8, 2016: Presidential Election Defeat
On November 8, 2016, Hillary Clinton was defeated by Donald Trump in the presidential election. She conceded the election to Trump after he secured 279 electoral college votes.
December 19, 2016: Faithless Electors
On December 19, 2016, when electors formally voted, Hillary Clinton lost five of her initial 232 votes due to faithless electors.
2016: Awareness of Wal-Mart role became a factor in loss of credibility
According to the journalist Dan Kaufman, awareness of Hillary Clinton's role in Wal-Mart later became a factor in her loss of credibility with organized labor, helping contribute to her loss in the 2016 election.
2016: Confirmation of being 'moderate and center'
During a campaign event in 2016, Hillary Clinton confirmed accusations of being "moderate and center", stating "I plead guilty".
2016: FEC Investigation into campaign finances.
In 2016 Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign occured which eventually led to a Federal Election Commission investigation into whether they violated campaign finance law by misreporting spending on research that eventually became the Steele dossier.
2016: 2016 Presidential Campaign
In 2016, Hillary Clinton ran for president focusing on: raising middle class incomes, establishing universal preschool, making college more affordable and improving the Affordable Care Act. She faced an unexpectedly strong challenge from democratic socialist Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
2016: Op-ed for LGBT newspaper
In 2016, Hillary Clinton was the first major-party presidential candidate ever to write an op-ed for an LGBT newspaper, the Philadelphia Gay News.
2016: Presidential Run and Email Controversy
In 2016, during her second presidential run, Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as Secretary of State was the subject of intense scrutiny.
2016: "Lock her up!"
In August 19, 2024, during her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention she referenced the 34 felony convictions of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, prompting chants of "Lock him up!" from the crowd in an ironic reference to Trump's own chants of "Lock her up!" in reference to Clinton's email scandal during his 2016 campaign.
2016: Email Server Controversy
Throughout her time as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton used her private email server for official business, which led to controversy. It was argued that this violated State Department protocols and federal laws, especially during her 2016 presidential election campaign.
2016: Polling Data and Book Release
Throughout most of 2016, Hillary Clinton held a significant lead in national polls over Donald Trump. In the fall of 2016, Clinton and Tim Kaine published Stronger Together, which outlined their vision for the United States.
January 20, 2017: Attends Trump Inauguration
On January 20, 2017, Hillary Clinton attended the inauguration of Donald Trump, stating that she was there to honor democracy and its enduring values.
March 17, 2017: St. Patrick's Day Speech
On March 17, 2017, Hillary Clinton delivered a St. Patrick's Day speech in Scranton, Pennsylvania, hinting at her return to political activity.
May 2017: Formation of Onward Together
In May 2017, Hillary Clinton announced the formation of Onward Together, a new political action committee dedicated to advancing a progressive vision.
September 12, 2017: 'What Happened' and 'It Takes a Village' Release
On September 12, 2017, Hillary Clinton's book of personal essays, What Happened, was released alongside a picture book adaption of It Takes a Village.
2017: Favored more aggressive action against Bashar al-Assad
In 2017, after a poison gas attack in Syria, Hillary Clinton said that she had favored more aggressive action against Bashar al-Assad, including taking out his air fields.
March 2019: No Presidential Run
In March 2019, Hillary Clinton reiterated her earlier comments that she would not run for president in 2020.
September 2019: State Department Completes Email Review
In September 2019, the State Department finished its internal review of Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email server, finding that it increased the risk of information being compromised but concluding there was no evidence of "systemic, deliberate mishandling of classified information".
2019: Co-Authors The Book of Gutsy Women
In 2019, Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea co-authored The Book of Gutsy Women.
January 2, 2020: Appointment as Chancellor at Queen's University Belfast
On January 2, 2020, it was announced that Hillary Clinton would take up the position of Chancellor at Queen's University Belfast, becoming the 11th and first female chancellor of the university.
March 2020: Hillary documentary release on Hulu
In March 2020, Hillary Clinton collaborated with director Nanette Burstein on the documentary film Hillary, which was released on Hulu.
April 28, 2020: Endorses Joe Biden
On April 28, 2020, Hillary Clinton endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, for president in the 2020 election.
September 29, 2020: Launch of 'You and Me Both' podcast
On September 29, 2020, Hillary Clinton launched an interview podcast titled You and Me Both in collaboration with iHeartRadio.
2020: Co-Authors Grandma's Gardens
In 2020, Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea co-authored Grandma's Gardens.
2020: No Presidential Run
In 2020, Hillary Clinton reiterated her comments in March 2019 that she would not run for president.
2020: Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast
Since 2020, Hillary Clinton has served as Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast.
October 12, 2021: Co-Authors 'State of Terror'
On October 12, 2021, Hillary Clinton co-authored the fiction novel State of Terror with Louise Penny.
January 2023: Joins Columbia University as professor
In January 2023, Columbia University announced that Hillary Clinton would join the university as professor of practice at the School of International and Public Affairs and as a presidential fellow at Columbia World Projects.
2023: Professor at Columbia University
In 2023, Hillary Clinton joined Columbia University as a Professor of Practice at the School of International and Public Affairs.
July 21, 2024: Endorses Kamala Harris
On July 21, 2024, Hillary Clinton endorsed Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election.
August 19, 2024: Speech at 2024 Democratic National Convention
On August 19, 2024, Hillary Clinton spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and referenced Donald Trump's felony convictions, prompting chants of 'Lock him up!'
September 17, 2024: Releases 'Something Lost, Something Gained'
On September 17, 2024, Hillary Clinton released another memoir, Something Lost, Something Gained.
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