Childhood and Education Journey of John Bolton in Timeline

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

John Bolton is an American attorney, diplomat, and Republican consultant known for his hawkish foreign policy views. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2005-2006) and as National Security Advisor (2018-2019).

Sections (5)

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

1945: Gretchen Smith born

Gretchen Smith Bolton was born in Kansas City in 1945.

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November 20, 1948: Birth of John Bolton

On November 20, 1948, John Robert Bolton was born. He is an American attorney, diplomat, Republican consultant, and political commentator.

Others born on this day/year

1964: Ran school's Students For Goldwater campaign

In 1964, John Bolton ran the Students For Goldwater campaign at his school.

1966: Graduation from McDonogh School

In 1966, John Bolton graduated from the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland.

1969: Vietnam War draft lottery number

During the 1969 Vietnam War draft lottery, John Bolton drew number 185.

November 1970: Active Duty for Training at Fort Polk

From July to November 1970, John Bolton attended Active Duty for Training (ADT) at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

1970: Wrote about avoiding service in Vietnam

Before graduating from Yale College in 1970, John Bolton enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard rather than waiting to find out if his draft number would be called and later wrote he had no desire to die in a Southeast Asian rice paddy and considered the war in Vietnam already lost.

1970: Graduation from Yale College

In 1970, John Bolton graduated summa cum laude from Yale College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was also a member of the Yale Political Union.

1971: Attended Yale Law School

In 1971, John Bolton started attending Yale Law School

1972: Bolton married Christina Bolton

In 1972, John Bolton married Christina Bolton.

1972: Summer intern for Vice President Spiro Agnew

In 1972, John Bolton worked as a summer intern for Vice President Spiro Agnew after being hired by David Keene.

1973: Gretchen Smith divorced

In 1973, Gretchen Smith divorced.

1974: Graduation from Yale Law School

In 1974, John Bolton earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, where he had shared classes and student housing with Clarence Thomas.

1983: Bolton divorced Christina Bolton

In 1983, John Bolton divorced Christina Bolton.

January 1986: Bolton married Gretchen Smith

In January 1986, John Bolton married Gretchen Smith Bolton, a financial planner with AXA Advisors.

1994: Criticism of the United Nations

In 1994, John Bolton stated, "There is no United Nations. There is an international community that occasionally can be led by the only real power left in the world, and that's the United States, when it suits our interests and when we can get others to go along."

2007: "Goldwater Conservative"

In 2007, John Bolton declared himself in an interview with Edward Luce of the Financial Times to be a "Goldwater conservative", as opposed to being a neoconservative.

2007: Comment about decision to avoid service in Vietnam

In 2007, John Bolton explained his comment in the reunion book saying his decision to avoid service in Vietnam was because "by the time I was about to graduate in 1970, it was clear to me that opponents of the Vietnam War had made it certain we could not prevail, and that I had no great interest in going there to have Teddy Kennedy give it back to the people I might die to take it away from."

2007: Book 'Surrender Is Not an Option'

In his 2007 book, Surrender Is Not an Option, Bolton described his perception of the Vietnam war as a "futile struggle", and that "dying for your country was one thing, but dying to gain territory that antiwar forces in Congress would simply return to the enemy seemed ludicrous to me. Looking back, I am not terribly proud of this calculation..."