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, currently serving as the senior United States Senator from South Carolina since 2003. A prominent member of the Republican Party, he previously chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021. Graham's career has been marked by his long tenure in the Senate and his involvement in key legislative and political debates.

Sections (5)

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

July 9, 1955: Lindsey Graham Born

On July 9, 1955, Lindsey Olin Graham was born. He is currently the senior United States senator from South Carolina.

Others born on this day/year

1977: B.A. in Psychology

In 1977, Lindsey Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.

1981: Graduated from Law School

In 1981, Lindsey Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.

1984: Featured on 60 Minutes

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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April 2012: Graham endorses Mitt Romney

In April 2012, after Rick Santorum withdrew from the race leaving Mitt Romney as the presumptive nominee, Lindsey Graham endorsed Romney for president.

June 2012: Graham supports closing tax loopholes

In June 2012, despite having signed Grover Norquist's Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Lindsey Graham went on record supporting the closure of tax loopholes without compensating decreases in other tax revenue, citing the country's debt.

February 2013: Improved Approval Rating

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

October 2014: Graham hints at presidential run

During his Senate reelection race in October 2014, Lindsey Graham hinted at a potential presidential run if nobody else stepped up to address immigration and foreign policy issues.

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

On March 7, 2015, at a "Politics and Pies" forum, Lindsey Graham advocated the reversal of defense spending cuts and jokingly suggested using the military to keep Congress in town until they fixed the issue.

March 2015: Graham supports Saudi 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 their shared opposition to Iran.

April 19, 2015: Graham indicates likely 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 raising the necessary funds.

May 18, 2015: Graham announces presidential run

On May 18, 2015, Lindsey Graham informally announced his presidential run on CBS This Morning, citing his belief that "the world is falling apart."

June 1, 2015: Graham announces presidential candidacy

On June 1, 2015, Lindsey Graham formally announced his candidacy for President of the United States.

June 17, 2015: Graham addresses Charleston church shooting

After the mass shooting at a historic African American church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, Lindsey Graham cancelled campaign events and addressed the Confederate flag debate, stating it was time for South Carolina to revisit the decision while emphasizing the shooter's personal responsibility for the crime.

December 2015: Dropped Presidential Candidacy

In December 2015, Lindsey Graham dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination for president before the 2016 primaries began.

December 21, 2015: Graham suspends presidential campaign

On December 21, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended his presidential campaign due to lack of support and poor polling.

January 15, 2016: Graham endorses Jeb Bush

On January 15, 2016, Lindsey Graham endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for president.

May 2016: Graham announces he won't vote for Trump or Clinton

In May 2016, after it appeared certain that Donald Trump would become the Republican nominee, Lindsey Graham announced that he would not vote for Trump or Hillary Clinton.

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.

2016: Sister introduces Graham at presidential candidacy announcement

In 2016, Darline Graham Nordone, Lindsey Graham's sister, introduced him at his announcement of his candidacy for president, highlighting his supportive role after their parents' deaths.

2016: Graham received campaign contributions from Thornton Law Firm

In 2016, it was reported that Lindsey Graham was "the only Republican recipient of money from a major Democratic donor now facing scrutiny for some questionable campaign donation habits." Over a ten-year period, Graham received $62,800 in campaign contributions from partners at the Thornton Law Firm, known for asbestos-related litigation.

March 2017: Shift to Trump Ally

After a March 2017 meeting with Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham became a staunch ally of Trump, often defending him publicly, marking a significant reversal.

April 2018: Graham introduces legislation to protect Robert Mueller

In April 2018, Lindsey Graham, along with Cory Booker, Chris Coons, and Thom Tillis, introduced new legislation known as the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act to limit President Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, allowing for an expedited judicial review of any dismissal.

March 14, 2019: Graham blocks resolution to make Mueller's report public

On March 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a resolution calling for Robert Mueller's report to be made public, after it had unanimously passed in the House.

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

In June 2019, Lindsey Graham was one of seven Republicans who voted to block President Trump's arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, and one of five Republicans to vote against an additional 20 arms sales.

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

On June 25, 2019, Lindsey Graham defended President Trump's cooperation with the Robert Mueller investigation, stating that Trump provided 1.4 million documents and made individuals available for interviews.

July 24, 2019: Graham questions Mueller's report

Following Robert Mueller's testimony to congressional committees on July 24, 2019, Lindsey Graham speculated that the Mueller report was just in name only and that it clearly wasn't the Mueller report.

October 2019: Graham proposes sanctions against Turkey

In October 2019, Lindsey Graham stated that he would introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey if they invaded Syria, and he would call for their suspension from NATO if they attacked Kurdish forces who assisted the US in the destruction of the ISIS Caliphate.