Childhood and Education Journey of Monica Lewinsky in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Monica Lewinsky, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Monica Lewinsky is an American activist who gained international notoriety in the late 1990s due to her affair with then-U.S. President Bill Clinton while she was a White House intern (1995-1997). The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal became a major political event, significantly impacting both her life and Clinton's presidency. Since then, Lewinsky has worked to redefine her public image, becoming an anti-bullying activist and public speaker, addressing issues of online harassment and reputation recovery.

Sections (5)

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

July 23, 1973: Monica Lewinsky Born

On July 23, 1973, Monica Samille Lewinsky was born. She later became an activist and gained international recognition in the late 1990s due to her affair with then U.S. President Bill Clinton.

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1988: Parents' Divorce

In 1988, Monica Lewinsky's parents divorced, and both remarried afterwards.

1991: High School Graduation

In 1991, Monica Lewinsky graduated from Bel Air Prep (later known as Pacific Hills School).

1993: Enrolled at Lewis & Clark College

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

1995: Graduation from Lewis & Clark College

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

1996: Mother Wrote Biography of The Three Tenors

In 1996, Monica Lewinsky's mother, Marcia Lewis, wrote "The Private Lives of the Three Tenors", a gossip biography.

The Private Lives of the Three Tenors: Behind the Scenes With Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras

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1998: Truth and Context Lost

In 1998, Monica Lewinsky reflected on how the truth and context were lost during the scandal, reducing the involved women to serve political or financial purposes.

March 1999: Publication of Monica's Story

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

Monica's Story

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June 1999: Ms. magazine Articles on Lewinsky's Behavior

In June 1999, Ms. magazine published a series of articles exploring the feminist implications of Monica Lewinsky's behavior, with perspectives from three generations of women.

2005: Move to London

By 2005, Monica Lewinsky moved to London to study social psychology at the London School of Economics due to the constant media attention in the U.S.

December 2006: Graduation with Master of Science Degree

In December 2006, Monica Lewinsky graduated with a Master of Science degree from the London School of Economics.

2006: Master's Degree in Psychology

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

2006: Graduation from London School of Economics

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

2009: Correspondence with Ken Gormley

In 2009, Monica Lewinsky corresponded with scholar Ken Gormley, stating that Clinton had lied under oath.

2013: Auction of Lewinsky Items

In 2013, items associated with Monica Lewinsky that Andy Bleiler had turned over to Starr were put up for auction by Bleiler's ex-wife.

May 2014: Vanity Fair Essay Shame and Survival

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

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October 2014: Public Stand Against Cyberbullying

In October 2014, Monica Lewinsky took a public stand against cyberbullying, calling herself "patient zero" of online harassment. Speaking at a Forbes magazine "30 Under 30" summit about her experiences in the aftermath of the scandal, she said, "Having survived myself, what I want to do now is help other victims of the shame game survive, too."

2014: Activism Against Cyberbullying

In 2014, Monica Lewinsky began her work as an activist against cyberbullying, marking a shift in her public persona.

March 2015: TED Talk on Cyberbullying

In March 2015, Monica Lewinsky continued to speak out publicly against cyberbullying, delivering a TED talk calling for a more compassionate Internet.

June 2015: Anti-Bullying Advocacy

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

September 2015: Interview on Good Morning America

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

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October 2017: #MeToo Tweet

In October 2017, Monica Lewinsky tweeted the #MeToo hashtag to indicate that she was a victim of sexual harassment or sexual assault, but did not provide details.

March 2018: Vanity Fair Essay

In the March 2018 issue of Vanity Fair, Monica Lewinsky wrote an essay in which she didn't directly explain why she used the #MeToo hashtag in October. She did write that looking back at her relationship with Bill Clinton, although it was consensual, because he was 27 years older than she and in a position with a lot more power than she had, in her opinion the relationship constituted an "abuse of power" on Clinton's part. She added that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder due to what she had experienced after the relationship was disclosed.

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