-->

• Rahm Emanuel is the White House chief of staff, serving under President-elect Barack Obama. The announcement of his appointment came on November 5, 2008, the morning after election day; Emanuel reportedly accepted the offer the same day, though a representative for the congressman denied this.National Journal Online: Reports: Emanuel Accepts Chief Of Staff Position (November 5, 2008) MSNBC: Emanuel accepts top slot in Obama WH

  Emanuel is the Democratic representative of Illinois' Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served as the Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2005 to 2007. According to reports, Emanuel will officially resign from his House seat on Friday, January 2, 2009 to join President-elect Obama's transition team.Fox News: Emanuel to Resign House Seat... (December 29, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: November 29, 1959
  2. Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
  3. Assumed office: January 3, 2003
  4. Party: Democrat
  5. Spouse: Amy Rule
  6. Alma mater: Sarah Lawrence College
  7. Previous position held: Bank executive
  8. Author: The Plan: Big Ideas for America
  9. Reportedly accepted offer to be President Barack Obama's chief of staff
  10. Lost the tip of his middle finger on his right hand after an accident with a meat slicer when he was a teenagerRolling Stone: The Enforcer (October 20, 2005)

• Resignation Statement

  This is Congressman Rahm Emanuel. As you may have heard, President-elect Obama has asked me to be his new chief of staff and I have accepted this offer. Therefore, in the near future, I will be resigning from Congress. ... I also want you to know, it has been a privilege and an honor to serve as your representative for the last six years,—Rahm Emanuel in a recorded call to constituents.Fox News: Emanuel to Resign House Seat... (December 29, 2008)

• Key Dates

  As the Chairman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Emanuel led the Congress to pass sweeping ethics reforms, increase minimum wage, expand research for stem cells, lower costs of prescription drugs, and cut interest rates for educational loans. In 2007, the Democrats in the House elected Emanuel to chair the Democratic Caucus, which marked him as the 4th-highest ranking member of the House Democrats. As a former banker, the majority of Emanuel's largest campaign contributors have been financial institutions.

• 2008 Presidential Campaign

  Emanuel was one of the speakers on the second day, August 26, of the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver. Emanuel was a key member of Bill Clinton's presidential team and had his loyalties split between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both longtime friends, during the Democratic primaries.Chicago Tribune: 5 Questions for Rahm Emanuel (August 26, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Obama Cabinet | Democratic Party | Barack Obama | Ari Emanuel | Hillary Rodham Clinton | Bill Clinton | Howard Dean | 2008 Democratic Convention | Denver | Sarah Lawrence College | Illinois | Chicago | Obama Transition Team | Tim Roemer | Mary Schapiro

Categories

• View History
• Discuss on the Message Board
• Embed this Page
• Share this page