John Bolton
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| John Bolton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | John Bolton |
| Caption | Official portrait, 2018 |
| Office | 27th United States National Security Advisor |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Term start | April 9, 2018 |
| Term end | September 10, 2019 |
| Predecessor | H. R. McMaster |
| Successor | Robert C. O'Brien |
| Office1 | 25th United States Ambassador to the United Nations |
| President1 | George W. Bush |
| Term start1 | August 1, 2005 |
| Term end1 | December 9, 2006 |
| Predecessor1 | John Danforth |
| Successor1 | Zalmay Khalilzad |
| Office2 | Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs |
| President2 | George W. Bush |
| Term start2 | 2001 |
| Term end2 | 2005 |
| Predecessor2 | John D. Holum |
| Successor2 | Robert Joseph |
| Birth date | 20 November 1948 |
| Birth place | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Christine Bolton (div.), Gretchen Smith (m. 2021) |
| Education | Yale University (BA, JD) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Serviceyears | 1970–1973 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
John Bolton is an American attorney, diplomat, and political commentator who served as the National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump from 2018 to 2019. A prominent figure in the Republican Party, he previously held several high-level positions in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush, most notably as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006. Known for his hawkish foreign policy views and advocacy for American unilateralism, Bolton has been a vocal supporter of regime change in nations like Iran, North Korea, and formerly Iraq.
Early life and education
John Robert Bolton was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up in the surrounding area. He attended McDonogh School, a private college-preparatory school in Owings Mills, Maryland. Bolton earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, *magna cum laude*, from Yale University in 1970, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He remained at Yale Law School, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1974. During the Vietnam War era, he served in the Maryland Army National Guard before joining the active-duty United States Army, where he attained the rank of First Lieutenant.
Legal and early government career
After law school, Bolton clerked for Judge John Clifford Wallace of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He then began his career in private practice at the Washington, D.C., firm Covington & Burling. His government service began in the administration of President Ronald Reagan, where he held positions in the United States Agency for International Development and later as an assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice under Attorney General Edwin Meese. During the presidency of George H. W. Bush, Bolton was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, where he was a sharp critic of the United Nations.
Ambassador to the United Nations
In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Bolton as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. In this role, he was a key architect of the administration's withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and a skeptic of multilateral agreements. In 2005, Bush appointed Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations via a recess appointment after his nomination faced strong opposition in the Senate from Democrats and some Republicans. During his tenure at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, he was known for his blunt, confrontational style, particularly regarding issues involving Iran and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He resigned in December 2006 following the midterm elections.
National Security Advisor
President Donald Trump appointed Bolton as his third National Security Advisor in April 2018, succeeding H. R. McMaster. His tenure was marked by advocacy for a hardline stance against Iran, culminating in the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear deal), and a confrontational approach to the regime of Kim Jong-un in North Korea. Bolton also advocated for continued U.S. military presence in Syria and Afghanistan, and was a vocal critic of the International Criminal Court. He was dismissed by Trump in September 2019, citing strong policy disagreements, particularly over strategies toward Iran, North Korea, and the Taliban.
Post-government career and political views
Since leaving the Trump administration, Bolton has been a frequent critic of the former president, writing a best-selling memoir, *The Room Where It Happened*, and appearing as a commentator on networks like CNN. He remains a leading voice for an interventionist, neoconservative foreign policy through his work at organizations like the American Enterprise Institute and his political action committee. He has consistently advocated for regime change in Iran and a tougher posture against China and Russia, while criticizing what he views as American isolationism within the Republican Party.
Personal life
Bolton has been married twice. His first marriage to Christine Bolton ended in divorce; they have one daughter together. In 2021, he married Gretchen Smith, a speechwriter. A resident of Bethesda, Maryland, he is known for his distinctive, bushy white mustache. Bolton is an avid collector of fine wines and a member of the Metropolitan Club in Washington, D.C..
Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:American diplomats Category:United States National Security Advisors Category:United States Ambassadors to the United Nations