Early Life and Education of Hillary Clinton: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Hillary Clinton. From birth to education, explore key events.

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.

Sections (6)

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

October 26, 1947: Hillary Clinton's Birth

On October 26, 1947, Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton was born. She later became a prominent American politician, lawyer, and diplomat.

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.

1961: Letter to NASA

Around 1961, Hillary Rodham Clinton sent a letter to NASA asking what she could do to become an astronaut, only to be informed that women were not being accepted into the program.

1962: Met Martin Luther King Jr.

In 1962, Hillary Rodham Clinton briefly met civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. when he gave a speech in Chicago's Orchestra Hall with Donald Jones' youth group.

1964: Campaigning for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater

In 1964, Hillary Rodham Clinton volunteered to campaign for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.

1965: Enrolled at Wellesley College

In 1965, Hillary Rodham Clinton enrolled at Wellesley College, where she majored in political science and became president of the Wellesley Young Republicans.

1965: High School Graduation

In 1965, Hillary Rodham Clinton graduated from Maine South High School in the top five percent of her class.

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.

1968: Elected President of Wellesley College Government Association

In early 1968, Hillary Rodham Clinton was elected president of the Wellesley College Government Association.

1969: Graduated from Wellesley College

In 1969, Hillary Rodham Clinton graduated from Wellesley College and became the first student in Wellesley College history to speak at the event. She was featured in Life magazine and appeared on Irv Kupcinet's nationally syndicated television talk show.

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1969: End of term as president of the Wellesley College Government Association

In early 1969, Hillary Rodham Clinton's term as president of the Wellesley College Government Association came to an end.

1970: Washington Research Project

In the summer of 1970, Hillary Rodham Clinton was awarded a grant to work at Marian Wright Edelman's Washington Research Project, where she was assigned to Senator Walter Mondale's Subcommittee on Migratory Labor.

1971: Began dating Bill Clinton

In the spring of 1971, Hillary Rodham Clinton began dating fellow law student Bill Clinton.

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: Beyond the Best Interests of the Child

During her second year in Yale Law School, in 1973, Hillary Rodham Clinton worked as a research assistant on the seminal work, Beyond the Best Interests of the Child.

1973: Graduation from Yale Law School

In 1973, Hillary Rodham Clinton graduated from Yale Law School.

1973: Juris Doctor degree from Yale

In 1973, Hillary Rodham Clinton received a Juris Doctor degree from Yale, having stayed on an extra year to be with Bill Clinton.

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.

October 11, 1975: Marriage to Bill Clinton

On October 11, 1975, Hillary Rodham married Bill Clinton in a Methodist ceremony in their living room, deciding to retain the name Hillary Rodham.

1975: Marriage to Bill Clinton

In 1975, Hillary Rodham married Bill Clinton and moved to Arkansas.

1978: Supplemented income trading cattle futures contracts

During 1978, Hillary Rodham engaged in the trading of cattle futures contracts to supplement her income.

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.

February 27, 1980: Birth of daughter Chelsea

On February 27, 1980, Hillary Rodham gave birth to her and Bill Clinton's only child, a daughter named Chelsea.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

1993: Bill Clinton becomes president and a blind trust was established

In 1993, when Bill Clinton became president, a blind trust was established.

November 2000: State dinner honoring the bicentennial of the White House

In November 2000, Hillary Clinton hosted a state dinner honoring the bicentennial of the White House.

2000: Clintons earned over $100 million since 2000

Since 2000, The Clintons earned over $100 million since.

June 2004: White House portrait unveiled

In June 2004, Hillary Clinton's official White House portrait, painted by Simmie Knox, was unveiled in a ceremony at the White House.

April 2007: Liquidated blind trust

In April 2007, the Clintons liquidated their blind trust to avoid potential ethical conflicts during Hillary's presidential race.

December 2012: Hospitalization for Blood Clot

In December 2012, Hillary Clinton was hospitalized for a few days for treatment of a blood clot in her right transverse venous sinus. Her doctors had discovered the clot during a follow-up examination for a concussion she had sustained when she fainted and fell nearly three weeks earlier, as a result of severe dehydration from a viral intestinal ailment acquired during a trip to Europe.

2016: Maintained Low Profile

Hillary Clinton maintained a low profile in the months following her defeat in the 2016 presidential election.

January 20, 2017: Attends Trump Inauguration

On January 20, 2017, Hillary Clinton attended the inauguration of Donald Trump.

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.

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.