25 Notable Yale Alumni

Built in 1701, Yale University takes its name from Elihu Yale, a Welsh merchant who generously donated the proceeds from the sale of goods and a portrait of King George I to help get the school off the ground. It’s among the oldest institutions in the country and boasts of an eclectic alumni group. Take a look at some of the more notable names to pass through its halls over the years.

1. George H.W. Bush // 41st President of the United States
2. George W. Bush // 43rd President of the United States
3. Hillary Rodham Clinton // Former Secretary of State, Former U.S. Senator from New York
4. Gerald Ford // 38th President of the United States
5. Sonia Sotomayor // Associate Supreme Court Justice
6. William Howard Taft // 27th President of the United States
7. Samuel Morse // Inventor of the telegraph
8. Benjamin Spock, M.D. // Child psychology expert
9. Eli Whitney // Inventor of the cotton gin
10. Fred Smith // FedEx Founder
11. William F. Buckley Jr. // Political commentator
12. Stone Phillips // Broadcast journalist
13. Garry Trudeau // Creator of Doonesbury
14. Thornton Wilder // Playwright (Our Town)
15. Bob Woodward // Journalist and author (All the President’s Men)
16. Angela Bassett // Actress
17. James Burrows // Television director (Cheers, Friends)
18. Dick Cavett // Television host
19. Claire Danes // Actress
20. Jodie Foster // Actress
21. Paul Newman // Actor
22. Edward Norton // Actor
23. Lupita Nyong’o // Actress
24. Meryl Streep // Actress
25. Cole Porter // Songwriter