President Bush nominates Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court.
A former Yale classmate of Anita Hill’s calls Nan Aron, a Thomas opponent, and suggests that Thomas sexually harassed Hill. Aron relays the tip to the staff of Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.
A Metzenbaum aide telephones Hill and mentions rumors of sexual harassment, but Hill makes no allegations.
An aide to Sen. Ted Kennedy asks Hill similar questions. Hill says she needs time to think about how to respond.
Hill agrees to talk about the sexual-harassment charges.
The Senate confirmation hearings open. Hill outlines her allegations to a Metzenbaum aide, who forwards them to Harriet Grant, a Judiciary Committee nominations counsel.
Hill repeats her allegations to Grant, insisting on confidentiality. Sen. Joseph Biden, the Judiciary Committee chairman, wants to order an FBI investigation, but Hill refuses.
Hill asks that Biden tell the rest of the committee about her allegations.
Hill agrees to an FBI probe.
The FBI issues its report. Biden and Sen. Strom Thurmond, the committee’s ranking Republican, schedule a vote on Thomas for Sept. 27.
Biden and his aides brief the committee’s seven other Democrats, but at least one isn’t told about the FBI report. Thurmond fails to brief some of his five Republican colleagues, GOP sources say.
The committee splits 7-7 on Thomas. Several members remain unaware of Hill’s allegations, the FBI report or both.
National Public Radio and New York Newsday break the story of Hill’s allegations.
The Senate, scheduled to vote on the nomination, decides instead to hold hearings on Hill’s charges.
Biden reopens the hearings, pitting Hill’s accusations against Thomas’s denials.
