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. He is 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 often associated with neoconservatism and is a prominent figure in conservative political circles.
November 20, 1948: John Bolton Born
On November 20, 1948, John Robert Bolton was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He is an American attorney, diplomat, Republican consultant, and political commentator.
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1964: Students For Goldwater Campaign
In 1964, John Bolton ran the school's Students For Goldwater campaign.
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1966: Graduated McDonogh School
In 1966, John Bolton graduated from the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland.
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November 1970: Attended Active Duty for Training
From July to November 1970, John Bolton attended Active Duty for Training (ADT) at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
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1970: Graduated Yale College
In 1970, John Bolton graduated summa cum laude from Yale College with a Bachelor of Arts.
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1971: Attended Yale Law School
In 1971, John Bolton began attending Yale Law School.
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1972: Marriage to Christina Bolton
Bolton married Christina Bolton in 1972.
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1972: Biological Weapons Convention
In 1972, the Biological Weapons Convention was established.
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1973: Gretchen Smith Bolton Divorce
Gretchen Smith Bolton's Divorce in 1973.
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1974: Juris Doctor from Yale Law School
In 1974, John Bolton earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.
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1983: Divorce from Christina Bolton
Bolton divorced Christina Bolton in 1983.
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January 1986: Marriage to Gretchen Smith Bolton
In January 1986, Bolton married Gretchen Smith Bolton.
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1994: Bolton's View on the United Nations
In 1994, 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."
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May 2000: Bustani re-elected
In May 2000, José Bustani had been unanimously re-elected for a four-year term.
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2000: "Convinced Americanist"
In a 2000 article in the Chicago Journal of International Law, Bolton described himself as a "convinced Americanist", favoring it over what he described as "globalism".
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2007: "Goldwater conservative"
In 2007, Bolton declared himself in an interview with Edward Luce of the Financial Times to be a "Goldwater conservative", as opposed to being a neoconservative, and said that he was a follower of Edmund Burke.
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2007: Explained Vietnam War Comment
In 2007, Bolton explained his comment in the Yale 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."
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2007: 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".
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2008: Campained against further EU integration in Ireland
In 2008, Bolton campaigned in Ireland against further EU integration, demonstrating his opposition to the expansion of EU powers.
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September 2011: Commented on al-Awlaki's Death
In September 2011, when the Obama administration declared the death of Al Qaeda target Anwar al-Awlaki, Bolton commented, "I think it's important as individual Al Qaeda figures and other terrorists are killed that we not read more into it than there is."
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2016: Bolton praised UK's referendum vote to leave the EU
In 2016, Bolton praised the UK's referendum vote to leave the EU.
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January 2019: Advocated for Hard Brexit
In January 2019, Axios reported that Bolton continued to advocate for a hard Brexit as National Security Advisor, reflecting his long-standing views on the European Union.
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