Hillary Clinton
Born 1947 · Age 78
American politician, lawyer, and diplomat; First Lady of the United States (1993–2001); U.S. Senator from New York (2001–2009); 67th U.S. Secretary of State (2009–2013); Democratic nominee for president (2016).
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Hillary Clinton and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Born in Chicago, Illinois
Hillary Diane Rodham was born at Edgewater Hospital in Chicago.
Family moved to Park Ridge, Illinois
Rodham's family relocated from Chicago to the suburb of Park Ridge when she was three.
Early political activism
Canvassed Chicago's South Side after the 1960 presidential election; began early interest in politics.
Volunteer for Barry Goldwater campaign
Volunteered on the Republican presidential campaign of Barry Goldwater.
President, Wellesley Young Republicans (freshman year)
Served as president of the campus Young Republicans early in college.
Graduated Maine South High School
Graduated in the top five percent of her class; National Merit Finalist and active in student government.
Enrolled at Wellesley College
Began undergraduate studies at Wellesley College, majoring in political science.
Elected president of Wellesley College Government Association
Elected student government president (served early 1968–early 1969); organized student strike after MLK assassination.
Attended 1968 Republican National Convention
Interned at the House Republican Conference and attended the convention; left the Republican Party afterwards.
Graduated Wellesley College; delivered commencement address
Graduated with a B.A. in political science with departmental honors; first student speaker in Wellesley history.
Summer grant to work with Marian Wright Edelman / Mondale subcommittee
Worked on issues for Senator Walter Mondale's Subcommittee on Migratory Labor via Marian Wright Edelman's Washington Research Project.
Met Bill Clinton
Began dating fellow Yale law student William Jefferson Clinton in spring 1971.
Campaigned for George McGovern (summer)
Worked on the 1972 presidential campaign of Democratic nominee George McGovern.
Published article 'Children Under the Law'
First scholarly article published in the Harvard Educational Review on children's rights.
Postgraduate studies and Children's Defense Fund work
Postgraduate year at Yale Child Study Center; staff attorney for the Children’s Defense Fund; consultant to Carnegie Council on Children.
Earned Juris Doctor from Yale Law School
Received a J.D. from Yale (stayed an extra year to be with Bill Clinton).
Co-founded Fayetteville rape crisis center
Helped establish the city's first rape crisis center while in Fayetteville.
Member of House Judiciary impeachment inquiry staff
Served as a congressional legal counsel advising the House Committee on the Judiciary during the Watergate investigation.
Moved to Arkansas and joined University of Arkansas faculty
After passing the Arkansas bar and failing the D.C. bar, she moved to Fayetteville and became one of two female faculty at the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Married William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton
Married Bill Clinton in a Methodist ceremony in their living room on October 11, 1975.
Indiana field director for Jimmy Carter's campaign
Worked as an Indiana state campaign organizer/director of field operations for Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign.
Bill Clinton elected Arkansas Attorney General
Bill Clinton won the Arkansas attorney general race (family moved to Little Rock).
Appointed to Legal Services Corporation board
Appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the board; served 1978–1981 and became first female chair (mid-1978 to mid-1980).
Co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Co-founded the state-level alliance linked with the Children’s Defense Fund to advocate for children and families.
Joined Rose Law Firm
Began practicing at the influential Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, specializing in patent and intellectual property law and doing child advocacy pro bono.
Engaged in cattle futures trading
Traded cattle futures in 1978–1979, turning an initial $1,000 into nearly $100,000 over ten months.
Invested in Whitewater Development
Clintons began their investment in the Whitewater real estate venture with the McDougals (later subject to 1990s controversies).
Became first woman partner at Rose Law Firm
Named full partner at Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, a significant professional milestone.
Chair, Arkansas Rural Health Advisory Committee
Appointed chair and secured federal funds to expand medical facilities in poor areas.
First Lady of Arkansas (first stint)
Became First Lady of Arkansas when Bill Clinton's first governorship began (first term 1979–1981).
Birth of daughter Chelsea Victoria Clinton
Chelsea was born on February 27, 1980.
Bill Clinton defeated in 1980 gubernatorial bid
Bill Clinton lost the 1980 Arkansas gubernatorial re-election campaign; the Clintons faced a period out of the governor's office.
Bill Clinton reelected governor; Hillary campaigned using 'Clinton' name
During the 1982 comeback campaign, Hillary began using the name Hillary Clinton to appeal to Arkansas voters and took leave from Rose Law to campaign.
Chair, Arkansas Education Standards Committee
Chaired the committee to reform public education: instituted mandatory teacher testing and state standards.
Named Arkansas Woman of the Year
Recognized by the state for leadership and public service.
First Lady of Arkansas (second stint)
Became First Lady of Arkansas again when Bill returned to the governorship (1983–1992).
Named Arkansas Young Mother of the Year
State recognition honoring parenting and public contributions.
Introduced Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth (HIPPY) in Arkansas
Launched a program to help parents prepare preschool children for school and literacy.
Named one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America
Recognized by The National Law Journal.
Named one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America (again)
Second listing by The National Law Journal.
Bill Clinton elected President; moved to Washington
After Bill Clinton won the presidency in November 1992, the Clintons prepared for the White House transition.
Named chair of Task Force on National Health Care Reform
Led the Clinton administration's major initiative to reform U.S. health care.
Became First Lady of the United States
Assumed unprecedented policy role in the White House; had own West Wing office.
Health care reform plan failed to pass Congress
The administration's health care plan, popularly dubbed 'Hillarycare,' was abandoned in September 1994.
Delivered Beijing speech: 'Women's rights are human rights'
Addressed the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, a landmark moment for women's rights advocacy.
Won Grammy Award for spoken-word recording
Received a Grammy Award (listed in sources as 1996/1997 credits related to 'It Takes a Village').
Published 'It Takes a Village and Other Lessons Children Teach Us'
Bestselling book on children and society; later won a Grammy for its audio recording.
Helped pass State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Adoption & Safe Families Act
Played leading roles in creating SCHIP and the Adoption and Safe Families Act.
Purchased Chappaqua, New York home
Clintons bought a home in Chappaqua as they prepared for Hillary's Senate run.
Helped pass Foster Care Independence Act; Bill Clinton acquitted
Contributed to foster care reform (1999); the Clintons weathered the Lewinsky-related impeachment and Bill's acquittal in 1999.
Announced candidacy and elected U.S. Senator from New York
Formally launched campaign and won the November 2000 election; first former First Lady elected to federal office and first female senator from New York.
Post-9/11 recovery work for New York
Secured federal funds and support for New York after the September 11 attacks; helped secure billions for rebuilding and health of responders.
Took office as U.S. Senator from New York
Began Senate term; served on Budget; Environment and Public Works; HELP committees.
Voted to authorize force in Iraq
Joined other senators in authorizing the use of military force regarding Iraq in October 2002.
Chaired Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
Served as chair from 2003 to 2007 (committee leadership role).
Re-elected to U.S. Senate
Won a second Senate term in 2006 with a substantial margin (about 64%).
Announced 2008 presidential candidacy
Declared candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president (2008 campaign).
Lost Democratic presidential primary to Barack Obama
Won more popular votes and primary victories than any prior woman candidate but lost the nomination to Senator Obama.
Resigned Senate to become U.S. Secretary of State
Confirmed by the Senate and resigned her Senate seat to serve in President Barack Obama's Cabinet.
Became 67th U.S. Secretary of State
Served as Secretary of State from January 21, 2009 to February 1, 2013.
Appointed Honorary Founding Chair, Institute for Women, Peace and Security (Georgetown)
Became Honorary Founding Chair; awards in her name established at the university.
Advocated 2011 military intervention in Libya
Responded to Arab Spring by supporting NATO/coalition action in Libya; later drew partisan criticism.
Benghazi attack and aftermath
2012 attack on U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi led to extensive criticism of the State Department and congressional scrutiny.
Left office as Secretary of State
Completed term as Secretary of State on February 1, 2013.
Published 'Hard Choices'
Released memoir about her tenure as Secretary of State and foreign policy decisions.
Helped organize sanctions regime on Iran
Played a role in multilateral sanctions that pressured Iran, contributing to the environment that produced the 2015 JCPOA.
Role in lead-up to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
Sanctions and diplomacy she helped organize contributed to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).
Private email server controversy emerges
Revealed use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State; became a central issue in 2016 campaign; no charges ultimately filed.
Announced 2016 presidential campaign
Formally announced her candidacy for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
Launched Onward Together
Founded a political action organization to support progressive groups and candidates after the 2016 election loss.
Won Democratic nomination for President
Became first woman to win a presidential nomination from a major U.S. political party (Democratic National Convention, July 2016).
Lost 2016 presidential election (Electoral College)
Won the national popular vote (nearly 66 million votes) but lost the Electoral College to Donald Trump.
Published 'What Happened'
Authored a memoir about the 2016 campaign and election.
Published 'The Book of Gutsy Women' (with Chelsea Clinton)
Coauthored a book celebrating influential women.
Published 'Grandma’s Gardens' and other works
Continued publishing children's and other books, expanding media and production ventures.
Assumed office as Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast
Became the 11th and first female Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast.
Published 'State of Terror' (with Louise Penny)
Co-authored a political thriller novel.
Joined Columbia University as Professor of Practice at SIPA
Became Professor of Practice at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and co-founded an Institute of Global Politics.
Published 'Something Lost, Something Gained'
Released a collection of reflections (2024).
Produced Broadway show 'SUFFS' through HiddenLight Productions
Produced SUFFS; the production received multiple Tony nominations and won two Tonys for Best Book and Best Original Score.
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (listed in updated Britannica summary).
Ongoing public engagements, books, and media production
Continued to write, teach, produce, and engage in public service and philanthropy.
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Hillary Clinton and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Anne Mulcahy
Born 1952 · Age 73
Former Chairperson and CEO of Xerox Corporation, led Xerox's turnaround after a near-bankruptcy crisis; long-serving corporate director and non-profit leader.
Sergio Marchionne
Born 1952 · Age 73
Italian–Canadian business executive best known for turning around Fiat and Chrysler and for leading the creation of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).
Janice Howroyd
Born 1952 · Age 73
Entrepreneur, founder and CEO of The ActOne Group; first African-American woman to build and own a billion-dollar company. Author, business leader and frequent advisor to government and nonprofits.
Marianne Williamson
Born 1952 · Age 73
American author, lecturer, spiritual leader, charity founder and political activist; author of A Return to Love; 2014 congressional candidate; 2020 and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate; founder of Project Angel Food and The Peace Alliance.
Lee Hsien Loong
Born 1952 · Age 73
Singaporean politician and former military officer; served as Singapore's 3rd Prime Minister (2004–2024) and thereafter as Senior Minister. Long-serving PAP leader and MP for Teck Ghee / Ang Mo Kio since 1984.
Larry Fink
Born 1952 · Age 73
American billionaire businessman; co-founder, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager.