Hillary Clinton's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Hillary Clinton. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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

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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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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".

It Takes a Village, and Other Lessons Children Teach Us

Check it on Amazon

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.

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.

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.

It Takes a Village, and Other Lessons Children Teach Us

Check it on Amazon

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: Independent Counsel report on Filegate

In 2000, the final Independent Counsel report found no substantial or credible evidence that Hillary Clinton had any role or showed any misconduct in the Filegate matter.

2000: Final Whitewater report issued

In 2000, the final report on the Whitewater controversy, after several Independent Counsels investigated, stated there was insufficient evidence that either Bill or Hillary Clinton had engaged in criminal wrongdoing.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.