History of Maxine Waters in Timeline
Maxine Moore Waters is a longstanding figure in American politics, having served as the U.S. Representative for California's 43rd congressional district since 1991. Her district encompasses a significant portion of southern Los Angeles County, including parts of Gardena, Inglewood, and Torrance. Notably, the district's numerical designation has changed over the years, reflecting shifts in representation and demographics.
August 15, 1938: Birth of Maxine Waters
Maxine Moore Waters was born on August 15, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri.
1961: Moved to Los Angeles
In 1961, Maxine Waters relocated with her family to Los Angeles.
1966: Began Working as an Assistant Teacher
Maxine Waters began working as an assistant teacher with the Head Start program in Watts in 1966.
1971: Graduated from Los Angeles State College
Maxine Waters earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from Los Angeles State College (now California State University, Los Angeles) in 1971.
1973: Became Chief Deputy to City Councilman David S. Cunningham, Jr.
Maxine Waters assumed the position of chief deputy to City Councilman David S. Cunningham, Jr. in 1973.
1976: Elected to the California State Assembly
Maxine Waters' political career advanced in 1976 when she was elected to the California State Assembly.
1990: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
Following Augustus F. Hawkins' retirement, Maxine Waters was elected to the United States House of Representatives for California's 29th congressional district in 1990.
1991: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
Maxine Waters began her tenure as the U.S. representative for California's 29th congressional district in 1991.
July 1992: Waters Labels President George H.W. Bush a "Racist"
In July of 1992, Maxine Waters made headlines when she publicly called President George H.W. Bush a "racist," accusing him of exploiting racial divisions for political gain.
1992: Congressional District Renumbered
The congressional district Maxine Waters represented was renumbered from the 29th to the 35th in 1992.
1992: Response to the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
Maxine Waters gained national attention for her response to the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict. She led chants of "No justice, no peace," provided relief supplies, and characterized the riots as a "rebellion" rooted in injustice.
1993: Congressional District Renumbered
Maxine Waters' congressional district was renumbered from the 29th to the 35th in 1993.
July 29, 1994: Involved in a House Floor Confrontation
Maxine Waters was involved in a confrontation on the House floor on July 29, 1994, when she repeatedly interrupted a speech by Representative Peter King and was suspended from the House for the rest of the day.
1996: Call for Investigation into CIA's Alleged Role in Crack Epidemic
In 1996, following a San Jose Mercury News article, Maxine Waters called for an investigation into the CIA's alleged involvement in the 1980s Los Angeles crack epidemic.
1997: Chaired the Congressional Black Caucus
From 1997 to 1998, Maxine Waters held the position of chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
1997: Became Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
In 1997 Maxine Waters took on the role of Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
1998: Waters Appeals to Castro Against Extradition of Assata Shakur
In 1998, Waters wrote an open letter to Fidel Castro, requesting him not to extradite convicted terrorist Assata Shakur, who had been granted asylum in Cuba. Waters argued that many in the Black community believed Shakur's conviction to be unjust. This was a reversal of her previous stance, where she had supported a Republican bill for Shakur's extradition.
1998: Waters Expresses Support for Fidel Castro, Criticizes U.S. Policy
Maxine Waters has been a vocal critic of U.S. policy towards Cuba, making numerous visits to the country and praising Fidel Castro's efforts towards democracy. She condemned U.S. attempts to overthrow Castro and advocated for an end to the trade embargo. In 1998, she wrote a letter to Castro expressing gratitude for his aid to those fleeing political persecution and labeling the U.S.'s actions in the 1960s and 1970s as a "sad and shameful chapter."
1998: End of Term as Chair of Congressional Black Caucus
Maxine Waters's term as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus ended in 1998.
1999: Waters Calls for Elián González's Return to Cuba
In 1999, Waters advocated for the return of six-year-old Elián González to his father in Cuba. Elián had survived a perilous journey from Cuba, during which his mother tragically drowned, and was subsequently taken in by relatives in the U.S.
1999: End of Term as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
Maxine Waters' term as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus ended in 1999.
2000: Objection to Florida's Electoral Votes
Maxine Waters objected to Florida's electoral votes in the 2000 presidential election, which George W. Bush narrowly won after a recount. Her objection was dismissed as no senator joined her.
2002: Vote Against Iraq War Resolution
In 2002, Maxine Waters voted against the Iraq War Resolution, opposing the potential military intervention against Saddam Hussein's regime.
2004: Death of Journalist Gary Webb
Gary Webb, the journalist who wrote the initial article alleging CIA involvement in the crack epidemic, died in 2004. His death was ruled a suicide, but it sparked controversy and further fueled Waters' concerns.
2004: Allegations of Nepotism and Corruption
In 2004, a Los Angeles Times article alleged that Maxine Waters' relatives profited from her political connections. While Waters denied wrongdoing, the allegations led to her being named to a list of corrupt members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
2004: Waters Condemns Haitian Coup d'état, Assists Aristide
Maxine Waters strongly opposed the 2004 coup d'état in Haiti and criticized the United States' involvement. Following the coup, Waters, along with Randall Robinson and Sharon Hay-Webster, formed a delegation that met with ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The delegation facilitated Aristide's safe passage to Jamaica, where he resided until May.
2004: Vote Against Counting Ohio's Electoral Votes
Maxine Waters was among 31 House Democrats who voted against counting Ohio's electoral votes in the 2004 presidential election, which George W. Bush won.
2005: Testified on For-Profit Education Fraud
Maxine Waters testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce in 2005 regarding the enforcement of federal anti-fraud laws within for-profit education.
2005: Secret Meeting with Louis Farrakhan
Maxine Waters participated in a secret meeting with Louis Farrakhan in 2005, along with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus. This meeting drew criticism due to Farrakhan's history of anti-Semitic views.
2005: Listed as a Corrupt Member of Congress
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington included Maxine Waters in its 2005 report on corrupt members of Congress, stemming from allegations of nepotism.
2006: Continued Scrutiny for Ethical Conduct
Maxine Waters continued to face scrutiny for her ethical conduct in 2006, remaining on Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington's list of corrupt members of Congress.
2006: Involved in Debate Over King Drew Medical Center
Maxine Waters was actively involved in the 2006 debate surrounding King Drew Medical Center, criticizing media coverage and petitioning the FCC.
2007: Criticism of Iraq War and Bush Administration
By 2007, Waters continued to criticize the Iraq War, advocating for troop withdrawal and challenging President Bush's requests for war funding. She argued these resources could be better utilized for domestic priorities like healthcare and education. Waters also highlighted the economic motivations of some individuals serving in the military, suggesting they were driven by financial need rather than solely by patriotism.
January 2008: Endorsed Hillary Clinton for President
Maxine Waters endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination in late January 2008.
August 2008: Waters Introduces the Stop VULTURE Funds Act
In August 2008, Waters introduced the Stop VULTURE Funds Act (Stop Very Unscrupulous Loan Transfers from Underprivileged countries from Rich Exploitive Funds Act), aiming to limit the ability of investors in sovereign debt to use U.S. courts to enforce those instruments against defaulting countries. However, the bill did not progress beyond the committee stage.
September 2008: Arranged Meetings for OneUnited Bank
In September 2008, Maxine Waters arranged meetings between U.S. Treasury officials and OneUnited Bank, in which her husband held stock and a former directorship, to request federal assistance for the bank.
2008: National Housing Trust Enacted
The National Housing Trust, a key component of Maxine Waters' proposed legislation, was enacted in 2008.
June 2009: Named "Porker of the Month"
Citizens Against Government Waste named Maxine Waters "Porker of the Month" in June 2009 due to her efforts to secure an earmark for the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center.
2009: Co-sponsored Bill for Reparations for Slavery
Maxine Waters joined Representative John Conyers in 2009 to co-sponsor a bill advocating for reparations to be paid to black Americans for slavery.
2009: Confronted Representative Dave Obey Over an Earmark
In 2009, Maxine Waters had a confrontation with Representative Dave Obey regarding an earmark related to a public school employment training center in Los Angeles named after her.
2010: Charged with Ethics Violations
The House Ethics Committee charged Maxine Waters with ethics violations in 2010, alleging that she improperly used her position to benefit OneUnited Bank.
August 2011: Waters Criticizes Obama's Support for Black Community
In August 2011, Maxine Waters publicly criticized President Barack Obama, arguing that he was not doing enough to support the Black community, particularly in light of the high African American unemployment rate, which was around 15.9% at the time.
August 20, 2011: Waters' Sharp Criticism of the Tea Party Movement
Maxine Waters has been a vocal critic of the Tea Party movement. During a town hall meeting on August 20, 2011, where she addressed dissatisfaction among Obama supporters regarding the Congressional Black Caucus's perceived lack of support for the President, Waters stated, "This is a tough game. You can't be intimidated. You can't be frightened. And as far as I'm concerned, the 'tea party' can go straight to Hell... and I intend to help them get there."
October 2011: Public Dispute Between Waters and Obama
October 2011 saw a public disagreement between Maxine Waters and President Obama. Waters contended that Obama prioritized swing voters over Black voters. In response, Obama urged a stop to complaints and a return to collaborative work.
2011: Ongoing Ethical Concerns
Ethical concerns surrounding Maxine Waters persisted in 2011, leading to her inclusion once again on Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington's list of corrupt members of Congress.
2011: Voted Against the National Defense Authorization Act
Maxine Waters voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 due to a controversial provision concerning the indefinite detention of American citizens.
September 21, 2012: Cleared of Ethics Charges
After a nearly three-year investigation, the House Ethics Committee cleared Maxine Waters of all ethics charges related to her efforts to help OneUnited Bank receive federal aid.
2012: Congressional District Renumbered Again
The congressional district Maxine Waters represented was renumbered from the 35th to the 43rd in 2012.
2012: Became Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee
When Barney Frank retired in 2012, Maxine Waters took on the role of ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee.
July 24, 2013: Voted in Favor of Amendment 100
On July 24, 2013, Maxine Waters voted in support of Amendment 100 to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2014, which aimed to limit the NSA's domestic surveillance activities.
2013: Congressional District Renumbered Again
Maxine Waters' congressional district was renumbered once more in 2013, becoming the 43rd district.
March 27, 2014: Introduced the Housing Opportunities Move the Economy Forward Act
Maxine Waters introduced the Housing Opportunities Move the Economy Forward Act of 2014 (Home Forward Act of 2014) on March 27, 2014, to address affordable housing initiatives.
2014: Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2014
The Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2014 was a significant piece of legislation related to defense spending.
2016: Objection to Wyoming's Electoral Votes
Following the 2016 presidential election, Maxine Waters objected to Wyoming's electoral votes, which Donald Trump won decisively. Her objection was dismissed without a supporting senator.
February 2017: Waters Begins Calling for Trump's Impeachment
In February 2017, Maxine Waters began calling for the impeachment of President Trump, citing his conflicts of interest and his role in creating "chaos and division."
July 2017: "Reclaiming My Time"
During a House Financial Services Committee meeting in July 2017, Maxine Waters' use of the phrase "reclaiming my time" in response to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin went viral, becoming synonymous with her criticism of the Trump administration.
August 12, 2017: Waters Links Trump to Charlottesville Violence
Following the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville on August 12, 2017, Waters connected Trump to the violence, labeling the White House as the "White Supremacists' House."
September 2017: Waters Vows to "Clean Out the White House"
During a eulogy for Dick Gregory in September 2017, Waters reiterated her stance on Trump's impeachment, stating her intent to "clean out the White House" and make Trump wish he had been impeached.
October 2017: Waters Believes Congress Has Enough Evidence for Trump's Impeachment
By October 2017, Waters believed there was sufficient evidence for Congress to proceed with Trump's impeachment. She cited allegations of Russian collusion during the 2016 election and accused Trump of obstructing justice.
2017: Waters' Strong Criticism of President Trump
Throughout 2017, Maxine Waters was openly critical of President Trump, calling him a "bully," "egotistical maniac," and "liar." She also questioned the integrity of his advisors who had ties to Russia or oil and gas interests there.
2017: Most Recent Use of the Mace for Disciplinary Purposes
The incident involving Maxine Waters in 1994 marked the most recent instance, as of 2017, of the Mace of the House of Representatives being employed for disciplinary purposes.
April 24, 2018: Waters Urges Trump to Resign
On April 24, 2018, at the Time 100 Gala, Waters publicly urged President Trump to resign, suggesting it would prevent her from continuing her fight for his impeachment.
June 23, 2018: Call to Confront Trump Administration Officials
On June 23, 2018, in response to an incident involving White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Maxine Waters encouraged her supporters to confront Trump administration officials.
October 24, 2018: Pipe Bombs Sent to Waters' Offices
Two of Maxine Waters' offices were targeted with pipe bombs on October 24, 2018. The bombs were intercepted, and no one was injured.
2018: Waters Criticizes Trump's State of the Union Address
Waters, along with the Congressional Black Caucus, viewed Trump's 2018 State of the Union address as racially charged. She released a video response, calling Trump "a dangerous, unprincipled, divisive, and shameful racist." Trump responded by calling her a "low-IQ individual."
2018: Named One of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People
In recognition of her impact, Maxine Waters was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential People in 2018.
2018: Calls for Resignation Due to Ties with Louis Farrakhan
In early 2018, the Republican Jewish Coalition called for Maxine Waters' resignation due to her longstanding relationship with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who had made anti-Semitic remarks.
June 18, 2019: Waters Calls for Halt to Facebook's Cryptocurrency Libra
On June 18, 2019, Maxine Waters called upon Facebook to halt its plans to develop and launch its cryptocurrency, Libra. She cited concerns about the lack of regulatory framework, investor protection, and potential risks to privacy, national security, and cybersecurity.
December 18, 2019: Waters Votes for Trump's Impeachment, Calling Him the "Worst President"
On December 18, 2019, Maxine Waters voted in favor of both articles of impeachment against President Trump, calling him the "worst president in the history of the United States."
2019: Cesar Sayoc Pleads Guilty to Mailing Pipe Bombs
Cesar Sayoc pleaded guilty in 2019 to sending pipe bombs to Maxine Waters' offices and other Democratic figures. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
2019: Became Chair of the House Financial Services Committee
Maxine Waters assumed the position of Chair of the House Financial Services Committee in 2019.
May 2020: Passing of Sister, Velma Moody
In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Maxine Waters' sister, Velma Moody, passed away due to the virus at the age of 86.
October 1, 2020: Waters Condemns Azerbaijan's Actions in Nagorno-Karabakh
On October 1, 2020, Waters joined other members of Congress in signing a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The letter condemned Azerbaijan's offensive in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, denounced Turkey's involvement in the conflict, and called for an immediate ceasefire.
April 17, 2021: Controversial Comments During Daunte Wright Protests
Maxine Waters sparked controversy with her comments during protests following the killing of Daunte Wright. Her statements about the Derek Chauvin trial, urging protesters to be "more confrontational" if there wasn't a guilty verdict, drew criticism and accusations of inciting violence.
April 19, 2021: Judge's Criticism of Waters' Comments
On April 19, 2021, the judge in the Derek Chauvin trial criticized Maxine Waters' comments about the trial, calling them "abhorrent" and suggesting they could be grounds for an appeal. However, the judge denied the defense's request for a mistrial.
2023: Became Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee
Maxine Waters transitioned to the role of ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee in 2023.