Childhood and Education Journey of Lindsey Graham in Timeline

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

Lindsey Graham is an American politician and attorney who has served as a U.S. Senator for South Carolina since 2003. A prominent member of the Republican Party, he held the position of Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021. Graham's career has been marked by his involvement in numerous legislative debates and his influence within the Republican Party.

Sections (5)

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

July 9, 1955: Lindsey Graham's Birth

On July 9, 1955, Lindsey Olin Graham was born. He later became a politician and attorney, serving as a U.S. Senator for South Carolina.

Others born on this day/year

1977: Graduated from the University of South Carolina

In 1977, Lindsey Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in psychology.

1981: Graduated from University of South Carolina School of Law

In 1981, Lindsey Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law with a J.D.

1984: Featured in 60 Minutes Episode

In 1984, while defending an Air Force pilot accused of using marijuana, Lindsey Graham was featured in an episode of "60 Minutes" that exposed the Air Force's defective drug-testing procedures.

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2000: Graham supports John McCain for president

In 2000, Lindsey Graham supported John McCain's bid for the presidency, marking an early instance of his support for McCain's political career.

2006: Voted to support constitutional amendment opposing same-sex marriage

In 2006, Graham voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to oppose same-sex marriage, stating his belief in the traditional definition of marriage and the necessity of the amendment to prevent judges from creating a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

2008: Graham co-chairs McCain's presidential campaign

In 2008, Lindsey Graham served as the national co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign, demonstrating his strong support and involvement in McCain's political aspirations.

2010: Thornton Law Firm's campaign contributions

Between 2010 and 2014, partners from the Thornton Law Firm, known for asbestos-related litigation, and one of their wives, contributed $1.6 million to politicians, with $1.4 million being reimbursed to the partners by the firm.

April 2012: Graham endorses Mitt Romney for president

In April 2012, after Rick Santorum withdrew from the race, Lindsey Graham endorsed Mitt Romney as the presumptive Republican nominee for president. This endorsement came after Graham had declined to endorse a candidate before the South Carolina Republican primary in January 2012.

June 2012: Graham supports closing tax loopholes

In June 2012, despite signing Grover Norquist's Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Lindsey Graham expressed support for closing tax loopholes even without corresponding decreases in other tax revenue, citing the country's significant debt as a reason to compromise on ideological grounds.

February 2013: Improved Approval Rating

According to a February 2013 Winthrop poll, Lindsey Graham had a 59% positive rating among likely Republican voters.

2014: Thornton Law Firm's campaign contributions

March 7, 2015: Graham advocates reversal of defense spending cuts

On March 7, 2015, at a "Politics and Pies" forum, Lindsey Graham advocated for reversing defense spending cuts and jokingly suggested using the military to keep Congress in session until the issue was resolved.

March 2015: Graham supports Saudi-led intervention in Yemen

In March 2015, Lindsey Graham voiced his support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, emphasizing the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia and characterizing them as mortal enemies of Iran. Graham stated the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia in the context of regional politics in March 2015.

April 19, 2015: Graham indicates likelihood of presidential run

On April 19, 2015, Lindsey Graham stated on Fox News Sunday that he was "91% sure" he would run for president, contingent on his ability to raise sufficient funds.

May 18, 2015: Graham informally announces presidential run

On May 18, 2015, Lindsey Graham informally announced his candidacy for President on CBS This Morning, citing his belief that "the world is falling apart" as his motivation.

June 1, 2015: Graham announces presidential candidacy

Lindsey Graham officially announced his candidacy for President of the United States on June 1, 2015, marking the start of his campaign.

June 17, 2015: Graham responds to Charleston church shooting

After a mass shooting at a historic African American church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended campaign events and returned to South Carolina. He addressed the controversy surrounding the Confederate flag at the State Capitol, acknowledging its multiple interpretations and emphasized the shooter's personal responsibility for the crime.

December 21, 2015: Graham suspends presidential campaign

On December 21, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended his presidential campaign due to a lack of support and poor polling numbers, ending his bid for the presidency.

January 15, 2016: Graham endorses Jeb Bush for president

On January 15, 2016, Lindsey Graham endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for president, following the suspension of his own campaign.

May 2016: Graham refuses to support Trump or Clinton

In May 2016, after it became clear that Donald Trump would be the Republican nominee, Lindsey Graham announced that he would not vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, expressing his disapproval of Trump's political approach.

November 8, 2016: Graham votes for Evan McMullin

On November 8, 2016, Lindsey Graham announced that he had voted for Evan McMullin in the presidential election, after previously stating he would not vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.

2016: Sister introduces Graham at presidential candidacy announcement

In 2016, Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, introduced him at the announcement of his candidacy for president. Nordone emphasized Graham's caring nature and the close bond they shared since the early deaths of their parents.

2016: Report on Graham's campaign contributions from Thornton Law Firm

In 2016, The Boston Globe reported that Lindsey Graham was the only Republican recipient of money from a major Democratic donor, the Thornton Law Firm, which was under scrutiny for questionable campaign donation practices.

2016: Investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election

In January 2018, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley recommended charges against former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who was identified as the author of the Steele dossier, in connection with the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. They believed Steele had lied to federal authorities.

January 2018: Graham recommends charges against Christopher Steele

April 2018: Graham introduces legislation to limit Trump's ability to fire Mueller

In April 2018, following the FBI raid on Michael Cohen's office, Lindsey Graham, along with Cory Booker, Chris Coons, and Thom Tillis, introduced the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act. This legislation aimed to limit President Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller by allowing for an expedited judicial review of any dismissal to determine its appropriateness in April 2018.

March 14, 2019: Graham blocks resolution calling for Mueller's report to be made public

On March 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a resolution that called for the public release of the Mueller report. This action occurred after the House had unanimously passed the resolution.

June 2019: Graham votes to block Trump's Saudi arms deal

In June 2019, Lindsey Graham was among seven Republicans who voted to block President Trump's arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. He also voted against an additional 20 arms sales, marking a stance against the administration's policy at the time in June 2019.

June 25, 2019: Graham defends Trump's cooperation with Mueller investigation

On June 25, 2019, Lindsey Graham defended President Trump's level of cooperation with the Mueller investigation, stating that Trump provided a large number of documents and made individuals available for testimony.

July 24, 2019: Graham questions the authenticity of the Mueller report

Following Robert Mueller's testimony to congressional committees on July 24, 2019, Lindsey Graham speculated about the authenticity of the Mueller report, suggesting that it was merely attributed to Mueller but not actually his work.

October 2019: Graham threatens sanctions against Turkey

In October 2019, Lindsey Graham announced his intention to introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey if they were to invade Syria. Furthermore, he stated that he would call for Turkey's suspension from NATO if they attacked Kurdish forces who had assisted the United States in the fight against ISIS.

November 2019: Graham blocks Senate resolution on Armenian genocide

In November 2019, Lindsey Graham initially blocked a Senate resolution aimed at officially recognizing the Armenian genocide, a move that drew attention and criticism.

December 2019: Graham votes for resolution recognizing Armenian genocide

In December 2019, Lindsey Graham reversed his previous stance and voted in favor of the Senate resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. The resolution passed the Senate unanimously in December 2019.

August 2022: Argued states should decide the issue of marriage

In August 2022, after the House approved a bill recognizing same-sex marriages at the federal level, Graham stated that individual states should have the authority to decide the issue of marriage and opposed federal intervention in defining marriage.