Other Administration positions

13th Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs
In office May 11, 2001 – July 31, 2005
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	John D. Holum
Succeeded by	Robert Joseph
18th Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
In office May 22, 1989 – January 20, 1993
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Richard S. Williamson
Succeeded by	Douglas J. Bennet
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division
In office July 27, 1988 – January 20, 1989
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Richard K. Willard
Succeeded by	Stuart M. Gerson
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs
In office December 12, 1985 – July 27, 1988
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Robert McConnell
Succeeded by	Thomas Boyd
Assistant Administrator of USAID for Program and Policy Coordination
In office August 2, 1982 – December 30, 1983
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Alexander Shakow
Succeeded by	Richard Derham

Personal details

Born

John Robert Bolton

November 20, 1948 (age 76)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Political party

Republican

Spouses

Christine Bolton

(m. 1972; div. 1983)

Gretchen Smith

(m. 1986)

Children

Residences

Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.

Education

Yale University (BA, JD)

Signature

Military service

Allegiance

United States

Branch/service

United States Army

United States Army Reserve
Maryland Army National Guard

Years of service

1970–1976

John Robert Bolton (born November 20, 1948) is an American lawyer and diplomat. He is a member of the Republican Party. He has held important jobs in the United States government.

Bolton was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006. He also served as the National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump from 2018 to 2019.

Before these roles, Bolton worked for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He was an Assistant Attorney General and worked in the State Department. He also served as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security from 2001 to 2005.

Bolton is known for his strong views on foreign policy. He often supports military action and changing governments in other countries. He has written a book about his time working for President Trump.

Early Life and Education

Bolton in McDonogh School's 1966 yearbook

John Bolton was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 20, 1948. His mother, Virginia Clara, was a homemaker, and his father, Edward Jackson, was a firefighter. He grew up in a working-class area.

He earned a scholarship to McDonogh School and graduated in 1966. Bolton then went to Yale College, where he graduated with high honors in 1970. He later attended Yale Law School and earned his law degree in 1974.

Military Service During the Vietnam War

Bolton supported the Vietnam War. However, he avoided combat duty. He did this by joining the Maryland Army National Guard in 1970. He served in the National Guard for four years. After that, he served in the United States Army Reserve for two more years.

He later wrote that he did not want to die in Vietnam. He felt the war was already lost by the time he graduated college. He also believed that anti-war groups would give back any land gained by soldiers.

Legal Career

After law school, Bolton worked as a lawyer in Washington, D.C.. He worked for several law firms from 1974 to 2018. He was also a partner in one law firm for a time.

Working for Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr.

Bolton held several government jobs during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He worked in the State Department, the Justice Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

His roles included:

Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs at the State Department (1989–1993).
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division (1988–1989).
Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs (1985–1988).
Assistant Administrator for Program and Policy Coordination, USAID (1982–1983).
General Counsel, USAID (1981–1982).

Under Secretary of State (2001–2005)

Bolton joins Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld in negotiations with Rumsfeld's Russian counterpart in 2001

From 2001 to 2005, John Bolton served as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. In this job, he focused on stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). These are very dangerous weapons like nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.

Bolton worked to prevent countries from turning Americans over to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The U.S. does not recognize this court. He said pulling out of the ICC was a very happy moment for him.

Stopping Dangerous Weapons

Bolton played a role in stopping a 2001 meeting about biological weapons. He believed the plan would allow inspections of U.S. sites, which he felt was a risk to national security.

In 2002, Bolton gave a speech where he talked about countries that might be developing WMDs. He also worked to stop the trafficking of WMDs and materials for nuclear weapons.

Diplomacy and Challenges

Some people found Bolton's direct style challenging. Iran's Foreign Ministry called him "rude" and "undiplomatic." However, others said his strong stance helped him negotiate from a powerful position. He also received praise for helping to create the Proliferation Security Initiative. This was an agreement among many countries to stop the illegal trade of dangerous weapons.

Ambassador to the United Nations (2005–2006)

President George W. Bush announces Bolton's nomination as U.S. ambassador to the UN. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice looks on.

On March 7, 2005, President George W. Bush chose John Bolton to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Before this, Bolton had said that the UN building could lose "10 stories" and it "wouldn't make a bit of difference." This made some UN officials worried about his nomination.

Because of strong opposition in the Senate, President Bush appointed Bolton during a Senate break on August 1, 2005. This is called a recess appointment. It allowed him to serve as ambassador without full Senate approval at that time.

Senate Hearings and Opposition

During his Senate hearings, some lawmakers worried about Bolton's diplomatic style. One former State Department official called him a "serial abuser" of power. However, many Republicans strongly supported his nomination.

Democrats in the Senate blocked a full vote on his nomination. They wanted more documents about his past actions. Despite this, Bolton began his work as ambassador.

Time at the UN

The Economist magazine called Bolton "the most controversial ambassador ever sent by America to the United Nations." Some people at the UN liked his goals but not his direct way of working. He was praised for trying to reform the United Nations Human Rights Commission. He believed it included countries that abused human rights.

End of Service

On December 4, 2006, Bolton announced he would leave his role as U.S. representative to the UN. His recess appointment was ending, and he knew he would not get full Senate approval. President Bush accepted his decision.

John Bolton in 2008

National Security Advisor (2018–2019)

May 2, 2018: (from left) Bolton, Mike Pompeo, President Trump, Vice President Pence

In March 2018, President Donald Trump announced that John Bolton would become his new National Security Advisor. This is a very important job, advising the President on national security and foreign policy. Bolton started this role on April 9, 2018.

His appointment meant that President Trump's foreign policy team became known for its strong and direct approach. Bolton quickly made changes to the National Security Council staff.

Key Actions as Advisor

In April 2018, Bolton encouraged President Trump to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal. The U.S. did withdraw from the deal a month later.

Bolton also spoke strongly against the International Criminal Court. He said it was a threat to American independence and security. He stated that the U.S. would protect its citizens if the court tried to prosecute U.S. service members.

He also pushed for military options against Iran. He believed in changing the government in Iran. Bolton also changed how policy debates happened within the National Security Council.

Departure from the Trump Administration

In 2019, John Bolton, then U.S. National Security Advisor meeting United Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid (left) at 11 Downing Street

On September 10, 2019, President Trump announced that Bolton's services were "no longer needed." Trump said they had many disagreements. Bolton, however, said he offered to resign. He stated that Trump never directly asked him to leave.

After leaving the White House, Bolton returned to working as a senior advisor for an investment company.

Book and Legal Issues

In 2020, Bolton published a book about his time in the Trump administration. The book was titled The Room Where It Happened. The Justice Department tried to stop its publication, saying it contained classified information. Bolton's lawyer argued that the White House was trying to delay the book's release because it was critical of Trump. A judge allowed the book to be published.

Political Views and Activities

Bolton speaking at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 24, 2017

Bolton describes himself as a "Goldwater conservative." This means he believes in limited government and a strong national defense. He is known for his belief in "Americanism," which means putting American interests and independence first.

Views on International Organizations

Bolton is skeptical of international organizations and international law. He believes they can threaten American independence. He prefers that the U.S. act on its own rather than always working with many other countries. He has been a strong critic of the United Nations throughout his career. He believes the UN can be useful but should not limit U.S. power.

Views on Europe

Bolton is also critical of the European Union. He believes it is too slow to solve problems and promotes policies he disagrees with. He supported the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU (Brexit).

Bolton, President Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, December 1, 2018

Views on Specific Countries

Iraq: Bolton supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003. He believed it was necessary to remove Saddam Hussein from power.
Israel: He is a strong supporter of Israel. He does not support the idea of creating an independent Palestinian state.
North Korea and Iran: Bolton has often suggested taking strong action against North Korea and Iran. He believes these countries are a threat. He has called for changing the government in Iran.
Russia: He has called Russian actions, like interfering in elections, "a true act of war." He believes the U.S. should be tough with Russia.
China: Bolton has criticized China for stealing intellectual property. He also believes the U.S. needs to counter China's military buildup in the Pacific.
Latin America: He has criticized countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, calling them a "troika of tyranny."

Political Activism

Bolton has been involved in conservative politics for many years. He was a paid commentator for Fox News and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

He also set up the John Bolton Super PAC in 2013. This group raises money to support Republican candidates in elections.

Personal Life

Bolton married Christina Bolton in 1972, and they divorced in 1983. He has been married to Gretchen Smith Bolton, a financial planner, since 1986. They have one daughter, Jennifer. The family lives in Bethesda, Maryland. Bolton is a Lutheran.

Images for kids

Bolton's signature
December 26, 2018: Bolton and President Trump on the phone with Iraq Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi during visit to U.S. troops
Trump, Bolton and Emmanuel Macron at the 2018 NATO summit in Brussels
Bolton with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2018
Bolton meets with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu in Moscow in October 2018.
Bolton, President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Osaka, June 28, 2019
Bolton with Brazil's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro in November 2018
Bolton, President Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12, 2018
Bolton with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in September 2018
Bolton greeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in August 2018
Bolton with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in August 2018
President Trump, joined by Bolton and Netanyahu behind, signs the proclamation recognizing Israel's 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights, March 25, 2019.
U.S. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis greets the National Security Advisor-designate Bolton at the Pentagon in March 2018.
Bolton speaks at Chatham House on foreign policy challenges facing the Obama Administration.
Ambassador Bolton briefing on "The Human Rights Commission and UN Management Reform" at the New York Foreign Press Center