History of Hillary Clinton in Timeline
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat. She served as the 67th U.S. Secretary of State under President Barack Obama, a U.S. Senator representing New York, and First Lady during Bill Clinton's presidency. As a member of the Democratic Party, she secured the party's nomination in the 2016 presidential election, making history as the first woman to win a presidential nomination from a major U.S. party and the only woman to win the popular vote in a U.S. presidential election. Notably, she is the only former First Lady to have run for elected office.
October 26, 1947: Hillary Clinton's Birth
On October 26, 1947, Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, née Rodham, was born.
1955: First visit to Burma by a US secretary of state
In December 2011, Hillary Clinton overcame internal administration opposition with a direct appeal to Obama and staged the first visit to Burma by a U.S. secretary of state since 1955. She met with Burmese leaders as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and sought to support the 2011 Burmese democratic reforms.
1960: Canvassing Chicago's South Side
In 1960, at age 13, Hillary Rodham helped canvass Chicago's South Side after the very close U.S. presidential election.
1961: Letter to NASA
Around 1961, inspired by U.S. efforts during the Space Race, Hillary Rodham 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: Meeting Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1962, Hillary Rodham saw and briefly met civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. when he gave a speech in Chicago's Orchestra Hall, while with her Methodist youth minister, Donald Jones.
1964: Campaigning for Barry Goldwater
In 1964, Hillary Rodham volunteered to campaign for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater in the election.
1965: Enrollment at Wellesley College
In 1965, Hillary Rodham enrolled at Wellesley College, where she majored in political science.
1965: High School Graduation
In 1965, Hillary Rodham graduated from Maine South High School in the top five percent of her class.
1968: Republican National Convention
In 1968, Hillary Rodham attended the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach but left the Republican Party for good, upset by the way Richard Nixon's campaign portrayed Rockefeller.
1968: President of the Wellesley College Government Association
In early 1968, Hillary Rodham was elected president of the Wellesley College Government Association.
1969: Graduation from Wellesley and Commencement Speech
In 1969, Hillary Rodham graduated from Wellesley College with a Bachelor of Arts and delivered a commencement speech, becoming the first student in Wellesley College history to speak at the event. Her speech garnered significant attention and was featured in Life magazine.
1969: Graduation from Wellesley College
In 1969, Hillary Rodham graduated from Wellesley College.
1969: End of term as president of Wellesley College Government Association
In early 1969, Hillary Rodham completed her term as the president of the Wellesley College Government Association.
1970: Work at Marian Wright Edelman's Washington Research Project
In the summer of 1970, Hillary Rodham 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: Dating Bill Clinton
In the spring of 1971, Hillary Rodham began dating fellow law student Bill Clinton.
1972: Shirley Chisholm's campaign
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm set marks for most votes garnered and delegates won by a woman that Hillary Clinton eclipsed during her 2008 campaign.
1972: Campaigning for George McGovern
In the summer of 1972, Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton campaigned in Texas for unsuccessful 1972 Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern.
1973: Graduation from Yale Law School
In 1973, Hillary Rodham graduated from Yale Law School.
1973: Juris Doctor Degree from Yale
In 1973, Hillary Rodham received a Juris Doctor degree from Yale, having stayed on an extra year to be with Bill Clinton.
1973: Yale Review of Law and Social Action
In 1973, Hillary Rodham was on the editorial board of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action.
1973: Publication of 'Children Under the Law'
In late 1973, Hillary Rodham's first scholarly article, "Children Under the Law", was published in the Harvard Educational Review, discussing the new children's rights movement.
August 1974: Moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas
In August 1974, Hillary Rodham moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas to become one of two female faculty members at the University of Arkansas School of Law. She chose to follow Bill Clinton to Arkansas rather than staying in Washington.
August 1974: Resignation of President Richard Nixon
In August 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned, an event Hillary Rodham contributed to as a member of the impeachment inquiry staff during the Watergate scandal.
1974: Bill Clinton lost Arkansas congressional race
In 1974, Bill Clinton lost an Arkansas congressional race to incumbent Republican John Paul Hammerschmidt.
October 11, 1975: Marriage to Bill Clinton
On October 11, 1975, Hillary Rodham married Bill Clinton in a Methodist ceremony in their living room in Fayetteville. Hillary decided to retain her maiden name, a decision that upset both mothers.
1975: Marriage to Bill Clinton
In 1975, Hillary Rodham married Bill Clinton.
November 1976: Bill Clinton elected Arkansas attorney general
In November 1976, Bill Clinton was elected as the Arkansas attorney general, leading Hillary and Bill to move to Little Rock, the state capital.
1976: 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 the Rose Law Firm
In February 1977, Hillary Rodham joined the Rose Law Firm, specializing in patent infringement and intellectual property law and worked 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 Legal Services Corporation board
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 the governor of Arkansas.
1978: Held position at the Legal Services Corporation
From 1978 until the end of 1981, Hillary Rodham held the position on the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation. From mid-1978 to mid-1980, she served as the first female chair of that board.
1978: Hillary's salary became higher than her husbands
From 1978 until they entered the White House, Hillary Rodham had a higher salary than her husband.
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: First Woman Partner at Rose Law Firm
In 1979, Hillary Clinton became the first woman partner at Little Rock's Rose Law Firm.
1979: Became full partner in Rose Law Firm
In 1979, Hillary Rodham became the first woman to be made a full partner in Rose Law Firm and engaged in the trading of cattle futures contracts.
1979: Appointed chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee
In 1979, Hillary Rodham was appointed chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee, securing federal funds to expand medical facilities in Arkansas's poorest areas.
February 27, 1980: Birth of Chelsea Clinton
On February 27, 1980, Hillary Rodham Clinton gave birth to Chelsea, her and Bill Clinton's only child.
November 1980: Bill Clinton defeated for re-election
In November 1980, Bill Clinton was defeated in his bid for re-election as governor of Arkansas.
1980: Served as first female chair
From mid-1978 to mid-1980, Hillary Rodham served as the first female chair of that board of the Legal Services Corporation.
1981: End of First Lady term in Arkansas
In 1981, Hillary Clinton's first term as the First Lady of Arkansas ended.
1981: End of first term as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1981, Hillary Rodham completed her first term as First Lady of Arkansas.
1981: End of term at the Legal Services Corporation
In 1981, Hillary Rodham completed her term on the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation.
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 governorship of Arkansas
In 1982, Bill Clinton returned to the governorship of Arkansas after winning the election. During the campaign, Hillary began to use the name "Hillary Clinton" to assuage the concerns of Arkansas voters.
1983: Start of Second Term as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1983, Hillary Clinton began her second term as the First Lady of Arkansas, a role she held until 1992.
1983: Named chair of Arkansas Education Standards Committee
In 1983, Hillary Clinton was named chair of the Arkansas Education Standards Committee and worked to reform the state's public education system.
1985: Joined the board of directors of TCBY
From 1985 to 1992, Hillary Clinton was 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 the board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores
From 1986 to 1992, Hillary Clinton was on the corporate board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores and pushed successfully for Wal-Mart to adopt more environmentally friendly practices.
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. The Clintons countered the charge by saying that state fees were walled off by the firm before her profits were calculated.
1988: Held position with the Children's Defense Fund and Arkansas Children's Hospital
In 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 until 1992.
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 the board of directors of Lafarge
From 1990 to 1992, Hillary Clinton was on the corporate board of directors of Lafarge.
1990: Considered running for governor
In 1990, Hillary Clinton considered running for governor of Arkansas when Bill Clinton thought about not running again, but private polls were unfavorable.
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.
August 1992: Attack from conservatives
Beginning with Daniel Wattenberg's August 1992 The American Spectator article "The Lady Macbeth of Little Rock", Hillary Clinton's own past ideological and ethical record came under attack from conservatives.
1992: End of service for various boards
In 1992, Hillary Clinton ended her service on the board of the Children's Defense Fund and the Arkansas Children's Hospital's Legal Services, as well as the corporate boards of TCBY, Wal-Mart Stores and Lafarge.
1992: End of Second Term as First Lady of Arkansas
In 1992, Hillary Clinton finished serving her term as the First Lady of Arkansas.
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.
January 1993: Chaired the Task Force on National Health Care Reform
In January 1993, President Clinton named Hillary Clinton to chair a task force on National Health Care Reform, which became known as the Clinton health care plan.
1993: First Lady
In 1993, Hillary Clinton became the First Lady of the United States as the wife of Bill Clinton, serving in this role until 2001.
1993: Blind Trust Established
In 1993, when Bill Clinton became president, a blind trust was established.
April 1994: Approval ratings fell
In April 1994, Hillary Clinton's approval ratings fell to 44 percent.
September 1994: Clinton health care plan abandoned
In September 1994, the Clinton health care plan was abandoned after failing to gather enough support in Congress.
1994: Healthcare Plan Failure
In 1994, Hillary Clinton's healthcare plan failed to gain approval from Congress.
1994: Republican Party highlighted Clinton health care plan
In 1994, the Republican Party negatively highlighted the Clinton health care plan in their campaign for the midterm elections, contributing to the Democrats' defeat.
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 denouncing practices that abused women worldwide, including within the People's Republic of China. During the speech, she famously declared that "it is no longer acceptable to discuss women's rights as separate from human rights".
1995: Start of "Talking It Over" Newspaper Column
In 1995, Hillary Clinton began publishing a weekly syndicated newspaper column titled "Talking It Over".
1995: No Ceilings Project
In 1995, Hillary Clinton led the No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project, a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The aim was to gather data on the progress of women and girls around the world since the Beijing conference.
1995: Characterized as a Rorschach test
In 1995, writer Todd S. Purdum of The New York Times characterized Hillary Clinton as a Rorschach test.
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 new book, "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us". She was frequently questioned about her involvement in the Whitewater and Travelgate controversies during these appearances.
January 26, 1996: Testifying Before a 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.
1996: Supported the Welfare Reform Act
In 1996, Hillary Clinton supported the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 as the best political compromise available.
1997: Initiated and shepherded the 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: Promotion 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".
November 1998: Urged to Run for Senate
In November 1998, after New York's long-serving U.S. senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan announced his retirement, several prominent Democratic figures urged Hillary Clinton to run for his open seat in the Senate election of 2000.
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 she was First Lady.
1998: Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal
In 1998, Hillary Clinton's marital relationship came under public scrutiny during the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal, which led her to publicly reaffirm her commitment to the marriage.
September 1999: Purchase of Home in Chappaqua, New York
In September 1999, after deciding to run for Senate, the Clintons purchased a home in Chappaqua, New York.
1999: Promotion of Adoption and Safe Families Act and 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 the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
In 1999, Hillary Clinton supported the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
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 monies for teenagers aging out of foster care.
May 2000: Giuliani Withdraws from Senate Race
In May 2000, Rudy Giuliani withdrew from the Senate race due to being diagnosed with prostate cancer and matters related to his failing marriage becoming public. Hillary Clinton then faced Rick Lazio, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, in the election.
November 7, 2000: Election to the U.S. Senate
On November 7, 2000, Hillary Clinton won the election for U.S. Senator from New York, defeating Rick Lazio with 55 percent of the vote.
November 2000: White House Bicentennial State Dinner
In November 2000, Hillary Clinton hosted a state dinner honoring the bicentennial of the White House.
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" Newspaper Column
In 2000, Hillary Clinton concluded her weekly syndicated newspaper column titled "Talking It Over", which she had started in 1995. The column focused on her experiences and those of women, children and families she met during her travels around the world.
2000: Publication of "An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History"
In 2000, Hillary Clinton published "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 marriages altogether.
2000: Election to the U.S. Senate
In 2000, Hillary Clinton was first elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first female senator from New York.
2000: Whitewater Controversy Final Report
In 2000, the final report regarding the Whitewater controversy was issued, stating that there was insufficient evidence that either Bill or Hillary Clinton had engaged in criminal wrongdoing.
2000: Clinton's Earnings
Since 2000, Bill and Hillary Clinton earned over $100 million.
2000: Opposition during 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. As George W. Bush was still 17 days away from being inaugurated as president, from January 3–20, she simultaneously held the titles of First Lady and Senator – 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.
2001: U.S. Senator
In 2001, Hillary Clinton became a U.S. Senator representing New York, serving until 2009.
2001: Senate Committee Assignments
In 2001, Hillary Clinton became a member of the Senate Committee on Budget, Committee on Environment and Public Works, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and Special Committee on Aging.
2001: Support for U.S. Military Action in Afghanistan
In 2001, Hillary Clinton strongly supported the U.S. military action in Afghanistan.
2001: Voting against Tax Cut Packages
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".
October 2002: Vote in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq
In October 2002, Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, a vote she later regretted.
October 2002: Vote in Favor of 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: Rated liberal on economics, social issues, and foreign policy.
From 2003 through 2006, The Almanac of American Politics rated Hillary Clinton's votes as liberal on economics, social issues, and foreign policy.
2003: Chaired Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
From 2003 to 2007, Hillary Clinton chaired the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee.
2003: Formative Role in Founding Center for American Progress
In 2003, Hillary Clinton played a formative role in the conversations that led to the founding of John Podesta's Center for American Progress.
2003: Appointment to the Committee on Armed Services
In 2003, Hillary Clinton was appointed to the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
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, sold over one million copies in the first month, and was translated into twelve foreign languages.
2003: Preparing for Presidential Candidacy
In early 2003, Hillary Clinton began preparations 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 second Senate term bid
In November 2004, Hillary Clinton announced her intention to seek a second term in the Senate, securing the Democratic nomination after running against Jonathan Tasini.
2004: Advising Media Matters for America
In 2004, Hillary Clinton advised David Brock's Media Matters for America.
2004: Vote Against Federal Marriage Amendment
In 2004, Hillary Clinton voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment that sought to prohibit same-sex marriage.
2004: National Journal study of roll-call votes
In 2004, a National Journal study of roll-call votes assigned Clinton a rating of 30 on the political spectrum, relative to the Senate at the time.
2004: Average Bounce in Conventions
In 2016, this was in line with the average bounce in conventions since 2004.
February 2005: Visit to Iraq
In February 2005, Hillary Clinton visited Iraq and observed that the insurgency had failed to disrupt the democratic elections and that parts of the country were functioning well.
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.
2005: Concerns with the USA Patriot Act Reauthorization
In 2005, Hillary Clinton expressed concerns with the USA Patriot Act Reauthorization Conference Report regarding civil liberties.
2005: Vote Against John Roberts Confirmation
In 2005, Hillary Clinton voted against the confirmation of John Roberts as chief justice of the United States.
March 2006: Vote for USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act
In March 2006, Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005, which had gained large majority support.
November 7, 2006: Clinton wins Senate election
On November 7, 2006, Hillary Clinton won the Senate election in New York with 67 percent of the vote against John Spencer.
2006: "Anti-Clinton literature" virtual cottage industry
A 2006 survey by the New York Observer found "a virtual cottage industry" of "anti-Clinton literature" put out by Regnery Publishing and other conservative imprints.
2006: Supported states' decisions to permit same-sex marriages
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 it.
2006: Vote Against 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 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 as 32nd-most liberal senator
In 2006, National Journal's rankings placed 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 election, declaring "I'm in and I'm in to win."
March 2007: Clinton Calls for Gonzales' 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, the Clintons liquidated their blind trust to avoid potential ethical conflicts as Hillary Clinton began her presidential race.
September 2007: Clinton Questions Petraeus's Report to Congress
In September 2007, Hillary Clinton responded to General David Petraeus's Report to Congress on the Situation in Iraq, expressing skepticism by stating, "I think that the reports that you provide to us really require a willing suspension of disbelief."
2007: Clintons' Earnings
Between 2007 and 2014, the Clintons earned almost $141 million, paid some $56 million in federal and state taxes, and donated about $15 million to charity.
2007: Call for Body Armor Investigation
In 2007, Hillary Clinton and Senator Jim Webb called for an investigation into the adequacy of body armor issued to soldiers in Iraq.
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 ended.
2007: National Journal ranking as 16th-most liberal senator
In 2007, National Journal's rankings placed Hillary Clinton as the 16th-most liberal senator.
2007: Expressed opposition to same-sex marriage
In 2007, while running for president, Hillary Clinton reiterated her opposition to same-sex marriage, but expressed support of civil unions.
2007: Democratic Presidential Nomination Competition
Throughout the first half of 2007, Hillary Clinton led in opinion polls for the Democratic presidential nomination, competing against Barack Obama and John Edwards. Obama's opposition to the Iraq War posed a significant challenge to her campaign.
January 2008: "Choked up moment" during New Hampshire primary
Following Hillary Clinton's "choked up moment" and related incidents in the run-up to the January 2008 New Hampshire primary, discussion of gender's role in the campaign moved into the national political discourse.
June 3, 2008: Obama Gains Enough Delegates
Following the final primaries on June 3, 2008, Barack Obama gained enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee.
November 2008: Clinton Considered 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. On November 20, she accepted the position.
December 2008: Saxbe Fix Passed
In December 2008, the Saxbe fix was passed and signed into law to allow Hillary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State.
2008: Guest appearance on Saturday Night Live
In 2008, Hillary Clinton made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.
2008: Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary
In 2008, Hillary Clinton placed third in the Iowa Democratic caucus on January 3 behind Obama and Edwards but secured a surprise win in the New Hampshire primary on January 8, becoming the first woman to win a major American party's presidential primary for delegate selection.
2008: Presidential Run
In 2008, Hillary Clinton ran for president but lost to Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries.
2008: Clinton Supports Financial System Bailout
In 2008, as the financial crisis peaked with Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy, Hillary Clinton supported the proposed bailout of the U.S. financial system, voting in favor of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program.
2008: Potential Presidential Bid
In 2008, there were concerns that Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign spending did not leave enough 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 full Senate with a vote of 94-2. She resigned from the Senate later that day, 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 under President Dmitry Medvedev.
October 2009: Turkish-Armenian Accord
In October 2009, Hillary Clinton's intervention helped secure the signing of a 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 Barack Obama's administration, a position she held until 2013.
2009: Resignation from Senate
In 2009, Hillary Clinton resigned from the Senate to become Obama's secretary of state.
2009: UN Special Envoy to Haiti
In 2009, Hillary Clinton's husband was named the UN Special Envoy to Haiti following a tropical storm season that caused $1 billion in damages.
2009: Afghanistan Surge Debate
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", advocating for 40,000 troops and no public deadline for withdrawal.
January 2010: Internet as a 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: Investment in Haiti
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: Diplomatic Isolation 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: 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 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 on Osama bin Laden Raid
During 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: Smart Power in Action
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. Throughout her time in office, Clinton viewed "smart power" as the strategy for asserting U.S. leadership and values.
August 2011: Call for Assad's Resignation
In August 2011, amidst rising government violence in the Syrian Civil War, Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration called for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to resign from the presidency.
December 2011: Gay Rights are Human Rights Speech
In December 2011, Hillary Clinton stated that "Gay rights are human rights" before the United Nations Human Rights Council, declaring the U.S. would advocate for gay rights and legal protections of gay people abroad. During the same period, she staged the first visit to Burma by a U.S. secretary of state since 1955.
2011: Military Intervention in Libya
In 2011, Hillary Clinton favored military intervention in Libya, aligning with Susan Rice and Samantha Power, overcoming opposition within the administration. She testified that congressional authorization was not needed. Following the intervention, the country became a failed state, leading to considerable debate.
2011: Honorary Founding Chair of the Institute for Women, Peace and Security
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 for the Obama administration, with Hillary Clinton playing a key role in the U.S. response, backing some regimes while supporting protesters against others during the Arab Spring.
May 2012: Presidential Aspirations
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 the U.S. Ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. On October 15, Clinton took responsibility for the question of security lapses.
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, which was discovered during a follow-up examination for a concussion she had sustained nearly three weeks earlier. The clot was treated with anticoagulant medication.
December 2012: Obama Nomination of 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 Rejected
During mid-2012, Hillary Clinton, along with CIA Director David Petraeus, formed a plan to further strengthen the Syrian opposition by arming and training vetted groups of Syrian rebels. The proposal was rejected by White House officials.
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: Benghazi Attack
In 2012, Hillary Clinton was harshly criticized by Republicans for the failure to prevent or adequately respond to the Benghazi attack.
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.
January 23, 2013: Testimony on Benghazi Attack
On January 23, 2013, Hillary Clinton gave testimony to two congressional foreign affairs committees regarding the Benghazi attack, defending her actions. She responded to questions about the administration's "talking points" with the statement about the four dead Americans.
February 1, 2013: Last Day as Secretary of State
February 1, 2013, was Hillary Clinton's last day as secretary of state. Analysts commented that Clinton's tenure did not bring any signature diplomatic breakthroughs, highlighting her focus on less tangible goals.
2013: Expressed support for a national right to same-sex marriage
In 2013, Hillary Clinton first expressed support for a national right to same-sex marriage.
2013: Joins Clinton Foundation
In 2013, Hillary Clinton left the State Department and returned to private life. She and her daughter Chelsea joined Bill Clinton as named members of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, focusing on early childhood development and girls' education initiatives.
2013: End of term as Secretary of State
In 2013, Hillary Clinton's tenure as the 67th United States Secretary of State in the Obama administration concluded.
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. 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 Israel–Gaza conflict
During the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, Hillary Clinton expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself.
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: Changed her mind about the presidency
In 2014, Hillary Clinton wrote in her autobiography, "Hard Choices", that she had not decided whether to run for President.
March 2015: Speech 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 to begin her presidential campaign.
July 15, 2015: Inspector General's Report on Emails
In a joint statement released on July 15, 2015, the inspector general of the State Department and the inspector general of the intelligence community said their review of Hillary Clinton's emails found classified information that should not have been transmitted via an unclassified personal system or stored outside secure government computer systems.
July 2015: 'Hard Choices' Sales
As of July 2015, Hillary Clinton's book "Hard Choices" had sold approximately 280,000 copies.
September 2015: 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 Benghazi Committee
On October 22, 2015, Hillary Clinton testified at an all-day and nighttime session before the House Select Committee on Benghazi and was widely seen as emerging largely unscathed.
2015: 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: Reentry into elective politics
In 2015, after Hillary Clinton reentered elective politics, organizations provided more recent assessments of her political positions. On the Issues placed her in the "Left Liberal" region.
2015: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
In 2015, the multinational Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action came to fruition, after Hillary Clinton helped to organize a regime of international sanctions against Iran.
February 4, 2016: Claim of No Classified Material Sent or Received
In 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."
February 2016: Retroactive Classification of Emails
The New York Times reported in February 2016 that nearly 2,100 emails stored on Hillary Clinton's server were retroactively marked classified by the State Department.
March 2016: Acknowledged not being a natural politician
In March 2016, Hillary Clinton acknowledged that: "I'm not a natural politician, in case you haven't noticed."
March 2016: Economic plan laid out
In March 2016, Hillary Clinton laid out a detailed economic plan, characterized by The New York Times as "optimistic" and "wide-ranging", basing it on inclusive capitalism.
May 2016: State Department Criticism of 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 to be considered the presumptive nominee.
June 2016: Release of Benghazi Committee 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 regarding the 2012 attack.
July 2, 2016: Repeated Claim of No Classified Material Sent or Received
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 Email Investigation
On July 5, 2016, the FBI concluded its investigation into Hillary Clinton's email practices. In a statement, FBI director James Comey spoke about the findings.
July 6, 2016: Email Probe Closed Without Charges
On July 6, 2016, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch confirmed the probe into Hillary Clinton's use of private email servers would be closed without criminal charges.
July 26, 2016: Nominated for President
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 Clinton Email Investigation
On October 28, 2016, FBI Director James Comey notified Congress that the FBI had begun looking into newly discovered emails related to Hillary Clinton. This event occurred two weeks before the presidential election.
November 8, 2016: Defeated 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.
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: 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.
2016: First major-party presidential candidate to write 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: "Lock her up!"
In August 2024, Hillary Clinton spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, referencing Donald Trump's felony convictions and prompting "Lock him up!" chants 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: Loss of Credibility with Organized Labor
In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton's past silence about Wal-Mart's anti-labor union practices became a factor in her loss of credibility with organized labor, contributing to her loss where slightly less than half of union members voted for Donald Trump.
2016: Maintained a Low Profile
In the months following her defeat in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton maintained a low profile.
2016: Email Server Controversy
Throughout her tenure as secretary of state, Clinton conducted official business exclusively through her private email server, as opposed to her government email account. The controversy occurred against the backdrop of Clinton's 2016 presidential election campaign and hearings held by the House Select Committee on Benghazi.
2016: Lead in National Polls
Throughout most of 2016, Hillary Clinton held a significant lead in national polls over Donald Trump. In fall 2016, Clinton and Tim Kaine published Stronger Together, which outlined their vision for the United States.
January 20, 2017: Attends Inauguration of Donald Trump
On January 20, 2017, Hillary Clinton attended the inauguration of Donald Trump.
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 re-enter politics.
May 2017: Forms 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: Releases 'What Happened'
On September 12, 2017, Hillary Clinton released her book, "What Happened", alongside a picture book adaption of "It Takes a Village".
2017: Favored more aggressive action against Bashar al-Assad
In a 2017 interview, 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.
2018: Chancellor position vacant at Queen's University Belfast
In 2018, the Chancellor position at Queen's University Belfast became vacant following the death of Thomas J. Moran, before Hillary Clinton filled the position in January 2020.
March 2019: Confirms No Public Office
In March 2019, Hillary Clinton reiterated she would not seek public office again.
September 2019: State Department Completes Internal Review
In September 2019, the State Department concluded its internal review of Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email server, finding an increased risk of compromised information but no evidence of systemic, deliberate mishandling of classified information.
2019: Co-Authors Book
In 2019, Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea co-authored the book "The Book of Gutsy Women".
January 2, 2020: Appointment as Chancellor at Queen's University Belfast
On January 2, 2020, Hillary Clinton was announced as the Chancellor at Queen's University Belfast, becoming the 11th and first female chancellor, filling the position vacant since 2018.
March 2020: Hillary documentary release on Hulu
In March 2020, the documentary film Hillary, a collaboration between Clinton and director Nanette Burstein, 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 Another Book
In 2020, Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea co-authored the book "Grandma's Gardens".
2020: Will not run for President in 2020
In March 2019, Hillary Clinton stated that 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: Co-Authors Fiction Novel
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 for President
On July 21, 2024, Hillary Clinton endorsed Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election.
August 2024: 2024 Democratic National Convention Speech
In August 2024, Hillary Clinton spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, referencing Donald Trump's felony convictions and prompting "Lock him up!" chants.
September 17, 2024: Release Another Memoir
Hillary Clinton is set to release another memoir, Something Lost, Something Gained, on September 17, 2024.
January 2025: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
In January 2025, United States President Joe Biden awarded Hillary Clinton the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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