John R. Bolton facts for kids

John R. Bolton
Quick facts for kids John R. Bolton
27th United States National Security Advisor
	In office; April 9, 2018 – September 10, 2019
President	Donald Trump
Deputy	Nadia Schadlow; Ricky L. Waddell; Mira Ricardel; Charles Kupperman
Preceded by	H.R. McMaster
Succeeded by	Charles Kupperman (acting)
25th United States Ambassador to the United Nations
	In office; August 2, 2005 – December 31, 2006
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	John Danforth
Succeeded by	Zalmay Khalilzad
3rd 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; 1988–1989
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; 1985–1988
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Robert McConnell
Succeeded by	Thomas Boyd
Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development for Program and Policy Coordination
	In office; 1982–1983
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Alexander Shakow
Succeeded by	Richard Derham
Personal details
Born	John Robert Bolton ; November 20, 1948 (age 72); Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Christine Bolton (m. 1972–1983) ; Gretchen Smith
Children	1
Education	Yale University (BA, JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1970–1976
Unit	United States Army Reserve; Maryland Army National Guard

John Robert Bolton (born November 20, 1948) is an American attorney, political commentator, Republican consultant and activist, government official and former diplomat who was the 27th National Security Advisor of the United States from April 9, 2018 to September 10, 2019.

Bolton served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from August 2005 to December 2006 as a recess appointee by President George W. Bush. He resigned at the end of his recess appointment in December 2006.

Bolton has been called a "war hawk" and is an advocate for regime change in Iran and North Korea and repeatedly called for the termination of the Iran deal. He was a supporter of the Iraq War and continues to support his decision. He has continuously supported military action and regime change in Syria, Libya, and Iran. A Republican, his political views have been described as American nationalist, conservative, and "neoconservative". Bolton rejects the last term and called himself "pro-American" instead.

Early life and education

Bolton was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Virginia Clara and Edward Jackson Bolton, a fireman. He grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Yale Heights and won a scholarship to the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland, graduating in 1966. He also ran the school's Students For Goldwater campaign in 1964.

Bolton attended Yale University, earning a B.A. and graduating summa cum laude in 1970. He was a member of the Yale Political Union. He attended Yale Law School from 1971 to 1974, where he shared classes with his friend Clarence Thomas, earning a J.D. in 1974.

Personal life

Bolton is married to Gretchen Smith Bolton, a financial planner with AXA Advisors. Together they have a daughter, Jennifer, and reside in Bethesda, Maryland. He is a Lutheran.

Images for kids

Bolton joins Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld negotiates with Russian counterpart
President George W. Bush announces the nomination of Bolton as the U.S. ambassador to UN as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice looks on
Ambassador Bolton briefing on "The Human Rights Commission and UN Management Reform" at the New York Foreign Press Center
John Bolton speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland 2015