Career Timeline of Monica Lewinsky: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Monica Lewinsky made an impact.

Monica Lewinsky is an American activist who gained international notoriety due to her affair with President Bill Clinton while she was a White House intern from 1995 to 1997. The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal that followed significantly impacted American politics and culture. In recent years, Lewinsky has become an anti-bullying activist, speaking out against online harassment and public shaming, drawing from her own experiences during the scandal. She has also contributed to discussions about the #MeToo movement and the power dynamics inherent in workplace relationships.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1993: Enrolled at Lewis & Clark College

In 1993, Monica Lewinsky enrolled at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

July 1995: White House Internship

In July 1995, Monica Lewinsky secured an unpaid summer White House internship in the office of White House chief of staff Leon Panetta and moved to Washington, D.C.

December 1995: Paid Posting in White House

In December 1995, Monica Lewinsky moved to a paid posting in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.

1995: Graduated with Psychology Degree

In 1995, Monica Lewinsky graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

1995: White House Internship

In 1995, Monica Lewinsky started as a White House intern. It was during her time as an intern between 1995 and 1997 that she had an affair with U.S. president Bill Clinton.

April 1996: Transferred to the Pentagon

In April 1996, Monica Lewinsky's superiors transferred her from the White House to the Pentagon because they felt that she was spending too much time with Clinton. She became an assistant to chief Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon.

December 1997: Left Pentagon Position

In December 1997, Monica Lewinsky left her position at the Pentagon.

March 3, 1999: Barbara Walters Interview

On March 3, 1999, Barbara Walters interviewed Monica Lewinsky on ABC's 20/20, which was watched by 70 million Americans.

March 1999: Publication of Monica's Story

In March 1999, Andrew Morton's biography "Monica's Story", which included Monica Lewinsky's side of the Clinton affair, was published. It was excerpted as a cover story in Time magazine.

Monica's Story

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May 8, 1999: Saturday Night Live Cameo

On May 8, 1999, Monica Lewinsky made a cameo appearance as herself in two sketches during an episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live.

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September 1999: Handbag Line Launch

In September 1999, Monica Lewinsky launched a line of handbags bearing her name under the company name The Real Monica, Inc.

February 2000: Jenny Craig Ads Stopped

In February 2000, Jenny Craig stopped running the commercials featuring Monica Lewinsky.

February 2000: Appearance on The Tom Green Show

In February 2000, Monica Lewinsky appeared on MTV's The Tom Green Show.

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April 2000: End of Jenny Craig Campaign

In April 2000, Jenny Craig concluded Monica Lewinsky's advertising campaign entirely and only paid her $300,000 of the $1 million contracted for her involvement.

March 2002: HBO Special Appearance

In March 2002, Monica Lewinsky, no longer bound by her immunity agreement, appeared in the HBO special "Monica in Black and White", part of the America Undercover series, answering questions about her life and the Clinton affair.

2003: Hosted Mr. Personality

In 2003, Monica Lewinsky hosted the reality television dating program Mr. Personality on Fox Television Network.

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2005: Moved to London

By 2005, Monica Lewinsky found that she could not escape the spotlight in the U.S., which made both her professional and personal life difficult. She stopped selling her handbag line and moved to London to study social psychology at the London School of Economics.

December 2006: Graduated with Master of Science Degree

In December 2006, Monica Lewinsky graduated from the London School of Economics with a Master of Science degree. Her thesis was titled, "In Search of the Impartial Juror: An Exploration of the Third-Person Effect and Pre-Trial Publicity".

2006: Master's Degree

In 2006, Monica Lewinsky obtained a master's degree in psychology from the London School of Economics.

May 2014: Vanity Fair Essay

In May 2014, Monica Lewinsky wrote an essay for Vanity Fair magazine titled "Shame and Survival", discussing her life and the scandal. She became a Vanity Fair contributor afterwards.

July 2014: Interview in The 90s: The Last Great Decade

In July 2014, Monica Lewinsky was interviewed in a three-part television special for the National Geographic Channel, titled "The 90s: The Last Great Decade." The series explored various events of the 1990s, including the scandal that brought Lewinsky into the national spotlight. This marked Lewinsky's first interview of this type in over a decade.

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October 2014: Public stand against cyberbullying

In October 2014, Monica Lewinsky took a public stand against cyberbullying, identifying herself as "patient zero" of online harassment. At a Forbes magazine "30 Under 30" summit, she shared her experiences following the scandal and expressed her desire to help other victims of online shaming.

2014: Activism Against Cyberbullying

In 2014, Monica Lewinsky began speaking out as an activist against cyberbullying.

March 2015: TED Talk on Cyberbullying

In March 2015, Monica Lewinsky continued her advocacy against cyberbullying by delivering a TED talk, calling for a more compassionate Internet.

June 2015: Anti-bullying Ambassador

In June 2015, Monica Lewinsky became an ambassador and strategic advisor for the anti-bullying organization Bystander Revolution. That same month, she delivered an anti-cyberbullying speech at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

September 2015: Good Morning America Interview

In September 2015, Monica Lewinsky was interviewed by Amy Robach on Good Morning America, discussing Bystander Revolution's Month of Action campaign for National Bullying Prevention Month.

October 2017: Foreword to 'Shame Nation'

In October 2017, Monica Lewinsky wrote the foreword to the book "Shame Nation: The Global Epidemic of Online Hate" by Sue Scheff and Melissa Schorr.

Shame Nation: The Global Epidemic of Online Hate

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August 6, 2019: American Crime Story: Impeachment Announced

On August 6, 2019, it was announced that the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal would be the focus of the third season of the television series American Crime Story, titled "Impeachment."

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2019: Interview on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

In 2019, Monica Lewinsky was interviewed by John Oliver on his HBO show "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." They discussed the importance of addressing public shaming and how social media might have affected her situation during the scandal in the late 1990s.

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October 2020: Production Begins on American Crime Story: Impeachment

In October 2020, production began on the third season of American Crime Story, titled "Impeachment," which focuses on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. Monica Lewinsky served as a co-producer for the series.

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June 2021: First Look Deal with 20th Television

In June 2021, Monica Lewinsky started her own production company, Alt Ending Productions, and signed a first look deal with 20th Television.

September 7, 2021: Premiere of American Crime Story: Impeachment

On September 7, 2021, the third season of American Crime Story, titled "Impeachment," premiered. The season portrays the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and is based on Jeffrey Toobin's book, "A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President."

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October 2021: Executive Producer of '15 Minutes of Shame'

In October 2021, Monica Lewinsky served as executive producer for the HBO documentary "15 Minutes of Shame," directed by Max Joseph, which explores the themes of public shaming, online ostracism, and humiliation.

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