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 political commentator, known for his hawkish foreign policy views. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006 and as the National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019. Bolton is a Republican consultant and has been a controversial figure due to his strong advocacy for interventionist foreign policies and skepticism towards international organizations and treaties. His tenure in government has been marked by significant policy debates and public attention.

Sections (5)

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

1945: Birth of Gretchen Smith Bolton

In 1945, Gretchen Smith Bolton, who would later marry John Bolton, was born in Kansas City.

November 20, 1948: John Bolton's Birth

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

Others born on this day/year

1964: Students For Goldwater Campaign

In 1964, John Bolton ran the school's Students For Goldwater campaign.

1966: Graduation from McDonogh School

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

1967: Bolton's View on the Annexation of West Bank Settlements

John Bolton supports what he calls the "Three State Solution" in order to determine the political status of Gaza and the West Bank. Under Bolton's Three State Solution, Israel would annex settlements it has built in the West Bank since the conclusion of the Six-Days War in 1967.

1969: Vietnam War Draft Lottery

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

November 1970: Active Duty Training

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

1970: Graduation from Yale College

In 1970, John Bolton graduated summa cum laude from Yale College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

1971: Attended Yale Law School

In 1971, John Bolton started attending Yale Law School.

1972: Bolton's First Marriage

In 1972, John Bolton married Christina Bolton; they later divorced in 1983.

1973: Divorce of Gretchen Smith Bolton

In 1973, Gretchen Smith Bolton divorced her first husband.

1974: Juris Doctor from Yale Law School

In 1974, John Bolton earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School.

1979: MEK Opposed Iranian State Since Shortly After Revolution

The People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) has opposed the Iranian theocratic state since shortly after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

1983: Bolton's Divorce from Christina Bolton

In 1983, John Bolton divorced Christina Bolton, whom he had married in 1972.

January 1986: Bolton's Marriage to Gretchen Smith Bolton

In January 1986, John Bolton married Gretchen Smith Bolton, a financial planner with AXA Advisors. She was born in Kansas City in 1945 and had been married once before, divorcing in 1973. Together they have a daughter, Jennifer, and have resided in Bethesda, Maryland since 1986.

1994: Bolton's View on the United Nations

In 1994, John Bolton expressed a dismissive view of the United Nations, stating, "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."

1998: Signatory to Letter Urging Removal of Saddam Hussein

In 1998, John Bolton signed a letter to President Bill Clinton urging the removal of Saddam Hussein from power through the use of U.S. diplomatic, political, and military force.

2000: Described Himself as a "Convinced Americanist"

In a 2000 article in the Chicago Journal of International Law, John Bolton described himself as a "convinced Americanist", favoring it over what he described as "globalism".

2005: Limited role in Libya WMD agreement

In 2005, John Bolton's involvement in the agreement with Libya to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction program was intentionally limited, with reports suggesting he was kept unaware of key developments until shortly before the public announcement.

2006: Attempted Prosecution of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

In 2006, John Bolton, along with Alan Dershowitz, Dore Gold, and other experts, attempted to bring prosecution against Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the International Court of Justice for incitement to genocide, based on Ahmadinejad's comments that "Israel must be wiped off the map".

2007: Declared Himself a "Goldwater Conservative"

In 2007, John Bolton stated in an interview with the Financial Times that he was a "Goldwater conservative," distinguishing himself from being a neoconservative.

2007: Bolton's View on Iraq War Mistake

In 2007, John Bolton stated that the United States' only mistake regarding Iraq was not withdrawing earlier after Saddam Hussein's overthrow, suggesting they should have left the Iraqis with a copy of the Federalist Papers.

2007: Interview on Vietnam War

In a 2007 interview, John Bolton explained his comment in the Yale reunion book, stating his decision to avoid service in Vietnam was because opponents of the Vietnam War had made it certain that the US could not prevail.

2008: Bolton Opposed Kosovo's Declaration of Independence

During 2008, John Bolton voiced his opposition to the declaration of independence by Kosovo.

2008: Bolton Campaigned Against EU Integration in Ireland

In 2008, John Bolton campaigned in Ireland against further EU integration, expressing his opposition to the expansion of EU powers through the Treaty of Lisbon.

2008: Bolton on Stopping Iranian Hostilities

In 2008, John Bolton stated that the goal was to stop the Iranians from engaging in hostilities against the U.S. inside Iraq and aiding the Taliban in Afghanistan, framing it as a responsive rather than provocative or preemptive measure.

2010: Co-founded the Friends of Israel Initiative

In 2010, John Bolton co-founded the Friends of Israel Initiative with 12 other international figures, demonstrating his strong support for Israel.

September 2011: Bolton on the Death of Anwar al-Awlaki

In September 2011, following the Obama administration's announcement of the death of Al Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, John Bolton cautioned against overstating the significance of individual terrorist deaths, comparing it to overestimating the impact of Vladimir Lenin's death on the Bolsheviks in the 1920s.

2012: Speaking in Favor of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK)

Prior to it being de-listed by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2012, Bolton spoke in favor of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (also known as the Mujahedin-e Khalq, or MEK).

2013: Bolton on Edward Snowden

In 2013, after NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was granted asylum in Russia, John Bolton suggested causing pain to Putin to influence his thinking. He also accused Snowden of treason and said he "ought to swing from a tall oak tree".

2016: Bolton Praised the UK's Brexit Vote

In 2016, John Bolton praised the United Kingdom's referendum vote to leave the European Union.

2016: Received $40,000 for Speech to MEK

In 2016, John Bolton was paid $40,000 for a speech he gave to the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK).

June 1, 2017: Bolton's Speaking Fee for European Iranian Events

On June 1, 2017, John Bolton received $40,000 as a speaking fee for "Global Events–European Iranian Events," which coincided with a speech he made for the MEK in Paris, France.

June 2017: Bolton Called Russian Interference an Act of War

In a June 2017 article, John Bolton called Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections "a true act of war".

August 28, 2017: Bolton Published Proposal on Withdrawing from Iran Deal

On August 28, 2017, John Bolton published his proposal on how to withdraw from the Iran deal in a National Review Online article, as he was unable to directly present his position to President Trump at the time.

2017: Testified on Moving U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem

In 2017, John Bolton testified before Congress in support of moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, in accordance with the Jerusalem Embassy Act.

March 2018: Bolton Suggested South Korea Take North Korea

In March 2018, John Bolton suggested that South Korea should take over North Korea and terminate the North Korean regime as the only "diplomatic option", stating that the war between the two countries is their problem, not the United States'.

March 2018: Bolton Advocated for Regime Change in Iran

In March 2018, speaking to a meeting of Iranian exile group Mujahedin-e-Khalq, John Bolton said the Trump administration should pursue regime change in Iran and that "before 2019, we here will celebrate in Tehran!"

April 2018: Bolton Named National Security Advisor

In April 2018, John Bolton was named to succeed H.R. McMaster as National Security Advisor, after which he pressed President Trump to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

May 2018: Estimated Payment to Bolton by MEK

In May 2018, journalist Joanne Stocker estimated that John Bolton had been paid "on the low-end, $180,000" by the MEK, though Bolton's office declined to comment on the matter.

July 2018: Bolton Referred to Investigation into Russian Interference as "Russia Witch Hunt"

In July 2018, as Trump's national security advisor, John Bolton referred to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections as "the Russia witch hunt".

2018: Bolton Continued to Support Iraq Invasion

By 2018, John Bolton continued to express his support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime.

2018: Bolton Criticized Washington's One-China Policy

In 2018, John Bolton criticized Washington's One-China policy, under which Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, is not recognized as an independent nation, with recognition being given only to the People's Republic of China.

2018: Bolton on Regimes That Lie About Agreements

In 2018, John Bolton stated that Russia, China, Syria, Iran, and North Korea are regimes that make agreements and lie about them, and that a national security policy based on the faith that such regimes will honor their commitments is doomed to failure. He also said, "Our goal should be regime change in Iran."

2018: Bolton on Territorial Adjustments Between Kosovo and Serbia

In 2018, John Bolton stated that the US would not exclude territorial adjustments between Kosovo and Serbia if the two parties could reach a mutually satisfactory agreement.

January 2019: Bolton Advocated for a Hard Brexit

In January 2019, it was reported that John Bolton continued to advocate for a hard Brexit in his role as National Security Advisor.

March 2019: Bolton Criticized the UK Political Class for Brexit Implementation

In a March 2019 interview with Sky News, John Bolton criticized the UK "political class" for not implementing the Brexit vote.

2019: Bolton Sabotaged Trump's Diplomatic Efforts with Iran

In 2019, John Bolton, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, successfully sabotaged President Trump's attempts to open diplomatic channels with Iran.

2019: Bolton's Prediction of Celebrating in Tehran

In March 2018, John Bolton told a meeting of Iranian exile group Mujahedin-e-Khalq that the Trump administration should pursue regime change in Iran and that "before 2019, we here will celebrate in Tehran!"

January 3, 2020: Bolton's Reaction to Soleimani's Killing

On January 3, 2020, following the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, John Bolton tweeted that it was a "decisive blow" against Iran's activities and expressed hope that it would be the first step toward regime change in Tehran.

December 2021: Bolton Called for Aggressive Response to Russian Troops Build-Up

In a December 2021 article, John Bolton called for an aggressive response to Moscow's troops build-up along the Ukraine border, before the full-scale invasion commenced in February 2022.

March 2023: Bolton Defended the Decision to Invade Iraq

In March 2023, John Bolton defended the decision to invade Iraq, asserting that there were concerns about Saddam Hussein pursuing nuclear weapons and providing them to terrorist groups.

July 6, 2023: Bolton Hailed Decision to Provide Cluster Munitions to Ukraine

On July 6, 2023, John Bolton praised U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to approve the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine, calling it "an excellent idea".

December 2023: Bolton Proposed Resettling Palestinians from Gaza

In December 2023, John Bolton proposed resettling Palestinians from Gaza.

April 2024: Bolton on the Gaza War as an Iranian War

In April 2024, John Bolton characterized the Gaza war as "an Iranian war against Israel, fought through terrorist proxies" and argued that eliminating Hamas is the only way to end the suffering of the people of Gaza.

July 2025: Bolton Suggested Algeria Offer Trump a Gift Regarding Western Sahara

In July 2025, John Bolton suggested that Algeria should offer Donald Trump a gift to persuade him to abandon American recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the annexed Western Sahara.