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 an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat with a long and impactful career. She served as the 67th United States Secretary of State, a U.S. Senator representing New York, and First Lady of the United States. As a member of the Democratic Party, she secured the party's nomination in the 2016 presidential election, marking her as the first woman to achieve this milestone for a major U.S. party and the only woman to win the presidential popular vote, although she lost the electoral college to Donald Trump. Clinton is also the only First Lady to have sought elected office.
1955: First visit to Burma by a U.S. secretary of state since 1955
In December 2011, Hillary Clinton overcame internal administration opposition and stage the first visit to Burma by a U.S. secretary of state since 1955.
1960: Canvassing Chicago's South Side
In 1960, at age 13, Hillary Rodham Clinton helped canvass Chicago's South Side after the very close U.S. presidential election.
1964: Campaigning for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater
In 1964, Hillary Rodham Clinton volunteered to campaign for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.
1968: Republican National Convention
In 1968, Hillary Rodham Clinton attended the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach but left the Republican Party for good due to her disappointment with the campaign.
1972: Clinton Eclipsed Shirley Chisholm's 1972 Marks
By the end of her campaign, Hillary Clinton eclipsed Shirley Chisholm's 1972 marks for most votes garnered and delegates won by a woman.
1972: Campaigning for George McGovern
In the summer of 1972, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Clinton campaigned in Texas for unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern.
1973: "Children Under the Law" Published
In late 1973, Hillary Rodham Clinton's first scholarly article, "Children Under the Law", was published in the Harvard Educational Review.
August 1974: Moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas and became a Law Professor
In August 1974, Hillary Rodham moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and became one of only two female faculty members at the University of Arkansas School of Law.
August 1974: Resignation of President Richard Nixon
In August 1974, Hillary Rodham was advising the House Committee on the Judiciary during the Watergate scandal, which culminated with the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
1974: Bill Clinton lost Arkansas congressional race
In 1974, Bill Clinton lost an Arkansas congressional race, facing incumbent Republican John Paul Hammerschmidt.
November 1976: Bill Clinton elected Arkansas attorney general
In November 1976, Bill Clinton was elected Arkansas Attorney General, prompting the couple to move to Little Rock.
1976: State campaign organizer for Jimmy Carter
In 1976, Hillary Rodham temporarily relocated to Indianapolis to work as an Indiana state campaign organizer for the presidential campaign of Jimmy Carter.
February 1977: Joined Rose Law Firm
In February 1977, Hillary Rodham joined the Rose Law Firm, specializing in patent infringement and intellectual property law, while also 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 the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation
Later 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
Following her husband's November 1978 election as governor of Arkansas, Hillary Rodham became that state's first lady.
1978: Supplemented income trading cattle futures contracts
During 1978, Hillary Rodham engaged in the trading of cattle futures contracts to supplement her income.
1978: Legal Services Corporation Board Member
From 1978, Hillary Rodham held a position on the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation.
January 1979: Became First Lady of Arkansas
In January 1979, Hillary Rodham became the First Lady of Arkansas.
1979: First Woman Partner at Rose Law Firm & First Lady of Arkansas
In 1979, Hillary Clinton became the first woman partner at Little Rock's Rose Law Firm. She also became the first lady of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 to 1992.
1979: First woman 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 defeated in bid for re-election
In November 1980, Bill Clinton was defeated in his bid for re-election as governor.
1980: First female chair of the Legal Services Corporation
From mid-1978 to mid-1980, Hillary Rodham served as the first female chair of the board of the Legal Services Corporation.
1981: End of tenure at the Legal Services Corporation
Hillary Rodham's tenure at the Legal Services Corporation ended at the end of 1981.
1981: End of First Lady of Arkansas term
In 1981, Hillary Clinton's first term as the first lady of Arkansas came to an end.
1981: End of First Term as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1981, Hillary Rodham ended her first term as First Lady of Arkansas.
1982: Board of directors of the New World Foundation
From 1982, 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, and Hillary began using the name "Hillary Clinton".
1983: Named chair of the Arkansas Education Standards Committee
In 1983, Hillary Clinton was named chair of the Arkansas Education Standards Committee, working to reform the state's public education system.
1983: Re-elected as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1983, Hillary Clinton was re-elected as the first lady of Arkansas.
1983: Start of Second Term as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1983, Hillary Rodham began her second term as First Lady of Arkansas.
1985: Board of directors of TCBY
From 1985, 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, aiding parents with preschool preparedness and literacy.
1986: Board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores
From 1986, Hillary Clinton held positions on the corporate board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores.
1986: Accusation 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: Arkansas Children's Hospital's Legal Services
From 1988, 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: Board of directors of Lafarge
From 1990, Hillary Clinton held positions on the corporate board of directors of Lafarge.
1990: Considered running for governor
In 1990, when Bill Clinton considered not running again for governor, Hillary Clinton considered running, but private polls were unfavorable, and in the end he ran and was reelected for the final time.
1991: Named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America
In 1991, Hillary Clinton was named by The National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America.
1992: End of tenure at TCBY, Wal-Mart Stores, and Lafarge
In 1992, Hillary Clinton ended her tenure on the corporate board of directors of TCBY, Wal-Mart Stores, and Lafarge.
1992: Campaign for Democratic presidential nomination
In 1992, Hillary Clinton received sustained national attention when her husband became a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.
1992: End of Second Term as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1992, Hillary Clinton's second term as the first lady of Arkansas came to an end.
January 1993: Chaired Task Force on National Health Care Reform
In January 1993, President Clinton named Hillary to chair a task force on National Health Care Reform, the recommendation of which became known as the Clinton health care plan.
January 1993: Became First Lady of the United States
In January 1993, when Bill Clinton took office as president, Hillary Rodham Clinton became the First Lady of the United States.
1993: First Lady of the United States
In 1993, Hillary Clinton became the First Lady of the United States as the wife of Bill Clinton.
April 1994: Approval ratings fell
In April 1994, Hillary Clinton's approval ratings fell to 44 percent.
September 1994: Health care plan abandoned
In September 1994, the Clinton health care plan was abandoned due to a lack of support in Congress.
1994: Healthcare Plan Failed to Gain Approval
In 1994, Hillary Clinton's health care plan failed to gain approval from Congress.
1994: Clinton health care plan negatively highlighted
In 1994, the Republican Party negatively highlighted the Clinton health care plan in their campaign for the midterm elections.
September 1995: Speech before 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, forcefully arguing against practices that abused women worldwide and in China. She declared that women's rights should not be separated from human rights.
1995: Published "Talking It Over" column
In 1995, Hillary Clinton began publishing a weekly syndicated newspaper column titled "Talking It Over," focusing on her experiences and those of women, children, and families she met during her travels around the world.
1995: No Ceilings Project Started
In 2014, Clinton led the No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project to gather and study data on the progress of women and girls around the world since the Beijing conference in 1995.
January 1996: Book tour for "It Takes a Village"
In January 1996, Hillary Clinton embarked on a ten-city book tour and made television appearances to promote her book "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us," facing questions about the Whitewater and Travelgate controversies.
1996: Supported the Welfare Reform Act of 1996
In 1996, Hillary Clinton decided to support the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, as the best political compromise available.
1997: Initiated Adoption and Safe Families Act
In 1997, Hillary Clinton initiated and shepherded the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which she considered her greatest achievement as First Lady.
1997: Leading Role in Creation of 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".
1997: Passage of the State Children's Health Insurance Program
In 1997, Hillary Clinton was a force behind the passage of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which gave state support to children whose parents could not provide them health coverage.
November 1998: Urged to run for U.S. Senate
In November 1998, after Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan announced his retirement, Hillary Clinton was urged by 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" while serving as First Lady.
September 1999: Clintons purchased a home in Chappaqua, New York
In September 1999, after Hillary Clinton decided to run for Senate, the Clintons purchased a home in Chappaqua, New York.
1999: Leading Role in Creation of the 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: Instrumental in 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 funds for teenagers aging out of foster care.
May 2000: Giuliani withdraws from Senate race
In May 2000, Rudy Giuliani withdrew from the Senate race after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, leaving Hillary Clinton to face Rick Lazio.
November 7, 2000: Elected as U.S. Senator for New York
On November 7, 2000, Hillary Clinton won the election to become the U.S. Senator for New York, securing 55 percent of the vote against Rick Lazio's 43 percent.
2000: "It Takes a Village" sales milestone
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: End of "Talking It Over" column
In 2000, Hillary Clinton ended her weekly syndicated newspaper column titled "Talking It Over".
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: Clinton Opposes Same-Sex Marriage
In 2000, Hillary Clinton was against same-sex marriages altogether.
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: Fundraising Groups Oppose Clinton's 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. Because Bill Clinton's term did not end until 17 days later, she simultaneously held the titles of First Lady and Senator – a first in U.S. history.
October 2001: Voted for the USA Patriot Act
In October 2001, Hillary Clinton voted for the USA Patriot Act.
2001: U.S. Senator
In 2001, Hillary Clinton became a U.S. Senator representing New York.
2001: Started term as Senator
In 2001, Hillary Clinton began her term as a U.S. Senator. She became a regular participant in the Senate Prayer Breakfast and sat on five Senate committees: Committee on Budget, Committee on Environment and Public Works, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Special Committee on Aging. She was also a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
2001: Supported U.S. military action in Afghanistan
In 2001, Hillary Clinton strongly supported the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, citing it as an opportunity to combat terrorism and improve the lives of Afghan women.
2001: Voted against Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act
In 2001, Hillary Clinton voted against President Bush's Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act.
2001: Wrote afterword to "Beatrice's Goat"
In 2001, Hillary Clinton wrote an afterword to the children's book "Beatrice's Goat".
October 2002: Voted for Iraq War Resolution
In October 2002, Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution, which authorized President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq.
2003: Chaired Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
From 2003 to 2007, Hillary Clinton chaired the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee.
2003: Joined Committee on Armed Services
In 2003, Hillary Clinton joined the Committee on Armed Services in the Senate, serving until 2009.
2003: Formative role in Center for American Progress and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
In 2003, Hillary Clinton played a formative role in conversations that led to the founding of the Center for American Progress, established by John Podesta, and shared aides with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, aiming to establish a progressive infrastructure.
2003: Published memoir Living History
In 2003, Hillary Clinton's memoir "Living History" was released by Simon & Schuster, setting a first-week sales record for a nonfiction work and selling over one million copies in the first month. She also received a Grammy nomination for the book's audio recording.
2003: Prepared for Potential Presidential Candidacy
Since at least early 2003, Hillary Clinton had been preparing for a potential candidacy for U.S. president.
November 2004: Announcement of Second Senate Term Bid
In November 2004, Hillary Clinton announced her intention to 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. Following the 2004 Senate elections, she pushed Harry Reid to create a Senate war room for political messaging.
2004: Voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment
In 2004, Hillary Clinton voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment that sought to prohibit same-sex marriage.
February 2005: Visit to Iraq
In February 2005, Hillary Clinton visited Iraq, noting that the insurgency had failed to disrupt the democratic elections and that parts of the country were functioning well.
2005: Called for investigation of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
In 2005, Hillary Clinton called for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how hidden sex scenes showed up in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and introduced the Family Entertainment Protection Act.
2005: Expressed concerns with the USA Patriot Act
In 2005, Hillary Clinton expressed concerns with the USA Patriot Act Reauthorization Conference Report regarding civil liberties.
2005: Voted against John Roberts confirmation
In 2005, Hillary Clinton voted against the confirmation of John Roberts as chief justice of the United States.
March 2006: Voted in favor of USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act
In March 2006, Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005.
November 7, 2006: Senate Re-election Victory
On November 7, 2006, Hillary Clinton won the election for her second Senate term with 67 percent of the vote against John Spencer, carrying all but four of New York's sixty-two counties.
2006: Clinton Supports State Decisions on Same-Sex Marriage
In 2006, Hillary Clinton said she would support a state's decision to permit same-sex marriages but opposed federally amending the Constitution to permit it.
2006: Voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment
In 2006, Hillary Clinton voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment that sought to prohibit same-sex marriage.
2006: Voted against Samuel Alito confirmation
In 2006, Hillary Clinton voted against the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court, filibustering the latter.
January 20, 2007: Announced Formation of Presidential Exploratory Committee
On January 20, 2007, Hillary Clinton announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee for the 2008 election, stating, "I'm in and I'm in to win."
March 2007: Called for Attorney General Gonzales to resign
In March 2007, Hillary Clinton called on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign in response to the dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy. She also cast votes in support of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007.
September 2007: Response to General Petraeus's Iraq 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
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 term as chair of Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
In 2007, Hillary Clinton's term as chair of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee came to an end.
2007: Led in Democratic Presidential Nomination Opinion Polls
Throughout the first half of 2007, Hillary Clinton led candidates competing for the Democratic presidential nomination in opinion polls for the election. Barack Obama and John Edwards were her strongest competitors.
2007: Clinton Reiterates Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage
While running for president in 2007, Hillary Clinton reiterated her opposition to same-sex marriage, though she expressed support for civil unions.
January 2008: Discussion of Gender's Role in Campaign Enters National Political Discourse
Following Hillary Clinton's "choked up moment" and related incidents in the run-up to the January 2008 New Hampshire primary, 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 Secured Enough Delegates to Become Presumptive Nominee
Following the final primaries on June 3, 2008, Barack Obama gained enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee.
November 2008: Discussed Secretary of State Position with Obama
In November 2008, President-elect Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton discussed the possibility of her serving as secretary of state in his administration. On November 20, she accepted the position.
December 2008: Appointment required a Saxbe fix
In December 2008, Hillary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State required a Saxbe fix, which was passed and signed into law.
2008: Supported bailout of the U.S. financial system
As the 2008 financial crisis reached its peak with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, 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 (TARP).
2008: Clinton Makes Guest Appearance on Saturday Night Live
In 2008, Hillary Clinton made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.
2008: Ran for president
In 2008, Hillary Clinton ran for president, but lost to Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries.
2008: Transferred Senate funds toward presidential campaign
In 2008, Hillary Clinton transferred $10 million of her Senate funds toward her presidential campaign.
2008: Presidential Campaign
In 2008, Hillary Clinton was a candidate for U.S. president.
2008: Third place finish in Iowa caucus, surprise win in New Hampshire
In the first vote of 2008, Hillary Clinton placed third in the January 3 Iowa Democratic caucus. On January 8, 2008, Clinton gained a surprise win in the New Hampshire primary, narrowly defeating Obama.
January 13, 2009: Senate Confirmation Hearings Began
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: Confirmed as Secretary of State
On January 21, 2009, Hillary Clinton was confirmed as Secretary of State by the full Senate and resigned from the Senate. She became the first former first lady to be a member of the United States Cabinet.
March 2009: "Reset button" symbolizing U.S. attempts to rebuild ties 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 that country under its new president, Dmitry Medvedev.
October 2009: Secured signing of Turkish-Armenian accord
In October 2009, Hillary Clinton intervened in Switzerland to secure the final signing of an historic Turkish–Armenian accord that established diplomatic relations and opened the border between the two nations.
2009: Secretary of State
In 2009, Hillary Clinton became the 67th United States Secretary of State in the Barack Obama administration.
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
In 2009, during an internal Obama administration debate regarding the War in Afghanistan, Hillary Clinton sided with the military's recommendations for a maximal "Afghanistan surge", recommending 40,000 troops and no public deadline for withdrawal.
January 2010: Compared the Iron Curtain and the free and unfree Internet
In January 2010, Hillary Clinton drew analogies between the Iron Curtain and the free and unfree Internet, marking the first time that a senior American government official had clearly defined the Internet as a key element of American foreign policy.
July 2010: Visited South Korea
In July 2010, Hillary Clinton visited South Korea, where she and Cheryl Mills successfully worked to convince SAE-A, a large apparel subcontractor, to invest in Haiti.
2010: Organized diplomatic isolation and international sanctions regime against Iran
Beginning in 2010, Hillary Clinton helped organize a diplomatic isolation and international sanctions regime against Iran to force curtailment of that country's nuclear program.
2010: Issued the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review
In late 2010, Hillary Clinton issued the first Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, calling for the U.S. to lead through "civilian power" and prioritize the empowerment of women throughout the world.
March 2011: Indication of not seeking a second term
In 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 those 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: Response to the Syrian Civil War
In August 2011, Hillary 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 so-called rebels opposed to the Assad government and humanitarian groups working in Syria.
December 2011: "Gay rights are human rights" speech
In December 2011, Hillary Clinton stated before the United Nations Human Rights Council that, "Gay rights are human rights", and that the U.S. would advocate for gay rights and legal protections of gay people abroad.
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 foreign policy crisis for the Obama administration. Hillary Clinton's response evolved from assessing Mubarak's government as "stable" to supporting an "orderly transition".
May 2012: Claimed not to seek presidency
Prior to her 2016 campaign, Hillary Clinton claimed in an interview on NDTV in May 2012 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.
December 2012: Nomination of John Kerry as successor
In December 2012, following Obama's re-election, he nominated Senator John Kerry to be Hillary Clinton's successor as secretary of state.
2012: Plan to arm and train Syrian rebels rejected
During mid-2012, Hillary Clinton formed a plan with CIA Director David Petraeus to further strengthen the 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: Bilateral relations declined considerably
In 2012, bilateral relations declined considerably, after 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.
January 23, 2013: Testimony to congressional committees regarding Benghazi attack
On January 23, 2013, Hillary Clinton gave testimony to two congressional foreign affairs committees regarding the Benghazi attack, defending her actions and accepting formal responsibility. She famously questioned "What difference at this point does it make?" regarding the cause of the attack.
February 1, 2013: Last day as Secretary of State
February 1, 2013, was Hillary Clinton's last day as Secretary of State.
2013: Clinton Expresses 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.
2013: Joins Clinton Foundation
In 2013, Hillary Clinton joined her husband and daughter as named members of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, focusing on early childhood development initiatives and girls' education.
2013: End of Secretary of State term
In 2013, Hillary Clinton's term as the 67th United States Secretary of State came to an end.
May 2014: Creation of House Select Committee on Benghazi
In May 2014, the Republican-led House Select Committee on Benghazi was created to conduct a two-year investigation related to the 2012 attack.
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: Publication of "Hard Choices"
In 2014, Hillary Clinton published her second memoir, "Hard Choices", which focused on her time as Secretary of State.
2014: Hard Choices Release
Prior to her campaign, Clinton wrote in her 2014 autobiography Hard Choices that she had not decided about running for president.
March 2015: Earnings from Speeches
For the fifteen months ending in March 2015, Hillary Clinton earned over $11 million from her speeches.
April 12, 2015: Announces Candidacy for President
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.
July 2015: "Hard Choices" Sales Update
As of July 2015, Hillary Clinton's book "Hard Choices" had sold approximately 280,000 copies.
September 2015: Clinton's Favorability Ratings Slump
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 the House Select Committee on Benghazi
On October 22, 2015, Hillary Clinton testified at an all-day and nighttime session before the House Select Committee on Benghazi.
2015: Clinton Makes Guest Appearance on Saturday Night Live
In 2015, Hillary Clinton made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live to face-off with her doppelgängers.
2015: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed to in 2015
In 2015, the multinational Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action being agreed to.
2015: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
In 2015, the multinational Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action happened after Hillary Clinton helped to organize a regime of international sanctions against Iran in an effort to force it to curtail its nuclear program.
March 2016: Clinton Lays Out Detailed Economic Plan
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.
June 5, 2016: Presumptive Nominee
By June 5, 2016, media outlets considered Hillary Clinton the presumptive nominee for the Democratic party.
June 2016: Release of competing final reports by House Select Committee on Benghazi
In June 2016, the House Select Committee on Benghazi issued competing final reports; the Republican report offered no evidence of culpability by Hillary Clinton related to the 2012 Benghazi attack.
July 5, 2016: FBI Concludes Email Investigation
On July 5, 2016, the FBI concluded its investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email server.
July 26, 2016: Nominated at Democratic National Convention
On July 26, 2016, Hillary Clinton was formally nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, becoming the first woman to be nominated for president by a major U.S. political party.
November 8, 2016: Defeat in Presidential Election
On November 8, 2016, Hillary Clinton was defeated by Donald Trump in the presidential election, despite winning the popular vote by more than 2.8 million votes.
2016: Loss of credibility with organized labor
According to the journalist Dan Kaufman, awareness of Hillary Clinton's silence about Wal-Mart's anti-labor union practices became a factor in her loss of credibility with organized labor, helping contribute to her loss in the 2016 election.
2016: Private Email Server Controversy
During her time as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton conducted official business exclusively through her private email server. In 2016 some experts, officials, members of Congress and political opponents contended that her use of private messaging system software and a private server violated State Department protocols and procedures, and federal laws and regulations governing recordkeeping requirements.
2016: Presidential Nominee
In 2016, Hillary Clinton became the Democratic Party's nominee in the presidential election, becoming the first woman to win a presidential nomination by a major U.S. political party and the only woman to win the popular vote for U.S. president. She lost the election to Donald Trump.
2016: Clinton Writes 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: Second Presidential Run
In 2016, Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary was the subject of intense scrutiny during her second presidential run. She won the Democratic nomination, but lost the general election to Donald Trump.
2016: Email Scandal
In August 2024, Hillary Clinton addressed the 2024 Democratic National Convention, referencing the 34 felony convictions of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, which prompted chants of "Lock him up!" from the crowd in reference to Trump's own chants of "Lock her up!" in reference to Clinton's email scandal during his 2016 campaign.
March 17, 2017: St. Patrick's Day Speech
On March 17, 2017, Hillary Clinton delivered a St. Patrick's Day speech in Scranton, Pennsylvania, indicating her readiness to become politically active again.
May 2017: Formation of Onward Together
In May 2017, Hillary Clinton announced the formation of Onward Together, a political action committee.
September 12, 2017: "What Happened" Release
On September 12, 2017, Hillary Clinton's book, "What Happened", which reflects on her defeat in the 2016 election, was released, alongside a picture book adaption of It Takes a Village.
March 2019: Reiterates No Public Office
In March 2019, Hillary Clinton reiterated her previous comments confirming that she would not seek public office again.
2019: "The Book of Gutsy Women" Co-authored
In 2019, Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea co-authored the book "The Book of Gutsy Women".
January 2, 2020: Clinton Becomes Chancellor at Queen's University Belfast
On January 2, 2020, Hillary Clinton became the 11th and first female chancellor of Queen's University Belfast, filling the position that had been vacant since 2018.
March 2020: Hillary Documentary Released on Hulu
In March 2020, the documentary film Hillary, on which Clinton collaborated with director Nanette Burstein, was released on Hulu.
April 28, 2020: Endorses Joe Biden for President
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: Hillary Clinton Launches Podcast
On September 29, 2020, Hillary Clinton launched an interview podcast in collaboration with iHeartRadio titled You and Me Both.
2020: "Grandma's Gardens" Co-authored
In 2020, Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea co-authored the book "Grandma's Gardens".
2020: Confirms No Presidential Run
In March 2019, Hillary Clinton stated she would not run for president in 2020.
2020: Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast
Since 2020, Hillary Clinton has served as Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast.
October 12, 2021: "State of Terror" Co-authored
On October 12, 2021, Hillary Clinton co-authored the fiction novel "State of Terror" with Louise Penny.
January 2023: Clinton 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 for President
On July 21, 2024, Hillary Clinton endorsed Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election.
August 2024: Address to the 2024 Democratic National Convention
In August 2024, Hillary Clinton addressed the 2024 Democratic National Convention, referencing the 34 felony convictions of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, which prompted chants of "Lock him up!" from the crowd.
September 17, 2024: "Something Lost, Something Gained" Memoir Release
Hillary Clinton is set to release another memoir, "Something Lost, Something Gained", on September 17, 2024.
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