Rahm Emanuel
Born 1959 · Age 66
American politician, diplomat, and former investment banker; U.S. Representative (2003–2009), White House Chief of Staff (2009–2010), Mayor of Chicago (2011–2019), U.S. Ambassador to Japan (2022–2025).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Chicago, Illinois
Born Rahm Israel Emanuel in Chicago to Benjamin and Marsha Emanuel.
Early childhood education — Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School
Attended Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School in Lakeview for elementary education.
Summer camp in Israel
Attended summer camp(s) in Israel, including the summer after the Six-Day War (1967) and subsequent summers.
Severe finger injury and partial amputation
While working part-time at Arby's as a high-school student, he cut his right middle finger on a meat slicer; infection led to partial amputation.
Ballet training
Encouraged by his mother, he studied ballet at the Evanston School of Ballet and Joel Hall Dance Center; won a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet (declined later).
Graduated Sarah Lawrence College (B.A.)
Earned a bachelor of arts in liberal arts from Sarah Lawrence College in 1981; served in student senate.
Worked on Paul Simon's U.S. Senate campaign
Worked on Democrat Paul Simon's successful 1984 U.S. Senate campaign (early political experience).
Graduated Northwestern University (M.A.)
Received a master of arts in speech and communication from Northwestern University.
National Campaign Director, DCCC
Served as national campaign director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 1988.
Chief fundraiser for Richard M. Daley mayoral campaign
Served as senior advisor and chief fundraiser for Richard M. Daley's successful initial Chicago mayoral campaign.
Opposition research for Neil Hartigan gubernatorial campaign
Worked for Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan conducting opposition research for his 1990 campaign for governor.
Paid retainer by Goldman Sachs during Clinton campaign
Received a retainer from Goldman Sachs while working on the Clinton campaign (disclosed later).
Director, Bill Clinton's finance committee
Directed fundraising for Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign; played a major role in raising approximately $72 million for the campaign.
Senior Advisor to President Clinton (policy & strategy)
Served as senior advisor to the president for policy and strategy during the Clinton administration (1993–1998).
Joined Clinton White House — Director of Political Affairs
Appointed White House Director of Political Affairs (assistant to the president for political affairs) on inauguration day.
Played role advancing NAFTA and other Clinton initiatives
Was a leading strategist in White House efforts to pass NAFTA and other signature Clinton policies.
Resigned from Clinton White House
Left the White House in 1998 after serving roughly five years as senior advisor.
Joined investment bank Wasserstein Perella & Co.
Became a managing director in the Chicago office of Wasserstein Perella (later Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein); had no prior banking MBA but was hired for political/transactional connections.
Promoted to Managing Director at Wasserstein Perella
By 1999 he was a managing director in the firm's Chicago office and participated in multiple M&A deals.
Named to Freddie Mac Board of Directors
Appointed by President Clinton to Freddie Mac's board in 2000; later earned at least $320,000 during tenure (including stock sales).
Reported banking earnings of $16.2M
Congressional disclosures indicated he made approximately $16.2 million during his roughly 2.5 years at the investment bank (1998–2000/2001).
Resigned Freddie Mac board and left banking to run for Congress
Resigned from Freddie Mac board in 2001 prior to first run for Congress.
Elected to U.S. House — Illinois 5th District
Won the U.S. House seat formerly held by Rod Blagojevich in the November 5, 2002 general election; received 66.8% of the vote.
Assigned to House Financial Services Committee
Named to the House Financial Services Committee and sat on the subcommittee overseeing Freddie Mac.
Took office as U.S. Representative
Sworn in as Representative for Illinois's 5th congressional district (term began January 3, 2003).
Re-elected to U.S. House (2004)
Won re-election to the House in November 2004 with ~76.2% of the vote.
Became Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)
Assumed chairmanship of the DCCC (Jan 3, 2005) after Bob Matsui's death; led efforts to gain House seats.
Oversaw Democratic gains in 2006 midterm elections
As DCCC chair, oversaw Democratic pickup of 30 House seats in 2006, regaining control of the chamber.
Re-elected to U.S. House (2006)
Won re-election to his congressional seat in November 2006 (78% of the vote).
Elected Chair of House Democratic Caucus
Became Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (Jan 3, 2007) — a leadership role with expanded strategic responsibilities.
Endorsed Barack Obama for President
Endorsed Barack Obama on June 4, 2008, after remaining neutral through much of the primary season.
Accepted appointment as White House Chief of Staff
Following Obama's election, accepted the post of White House Chief of Staff on Nov 6, 2008; resigned congressional seat effective Jan 2, 2009.
Involved in passage of stimulus and health care reform
Played a central role in White House strategy for the $787 billion economic stimulus and the administration's health care reform efforts.
Became White House Chief of Staff (Obama administration)
Officially began service as 23rd White House Chief of Staff on Jan 20, 2009.
Controversial remarks about disability advocacy groups
In January 2010 called certain liberal activists a derogatory slur during a closed-door meeting; later apologized.
Resigned as White House Chief of Staff
Resigned as Obama's Chief of Staff effective Oct 1, 2010, to run for Mayor of Chicago.
Mayoral campaign fundraising — $10.5M by Dec 31
By Dec 31, 2010 Emanuel had raised more than $10.5 million additional funds for his Chicago mayoral campaign (in addition to transfers).
Total mayoral campaign funds ~ $15M
Over the course of his 2011 mayoral campaign he ultimately procured approximately $15 million (including transfers from his congressional campaign committee).
Elected Mayor of Chicago (first term)
Won the nonpartisan mayoral election outright on Feb 22, 2011 with 55.3% of the vote, avoiding a runoff.
Inaugurated as 55th Mayor of Chicago
Sworn in May 16, 2011 — became Chicago's first Jewish mayor; inauguration attended by national officials.
City Council adopted Emanuel's first budget
On Nov 16 the City Council voted unanimously to adopt Emanuel's first budget, decreasing some items and increasing others with fee/fine increases.
Chicago Teachers Union strike
The CTU went on strike beginning Sept 10, 2012 — the first teachers' strike in Chicago in 25 years; tentative agreement reached Sept 14.
Appointed Natashia Holmes to 7th Ward (alderman)
Appointed Natashia Holmes as 7th Ward alderman (2013) to fill a council vacancy.
Appointed Deb Mell to 33rd Ward (alderman)
Appointed Deb Mell as 33rd Ward alderman in 2013.
Bloomingdale Trail (606) groundbreaking / infrastructure advocacy
Participated in ground-breaking and promoted the Bloomingdale Trail project and other neighborhood infrastructure investments.
Approval rating reported at 35% (Aug 2014)
A Chicago Tribune poll in August 2014 reported his approval rating at about 35%.
Laquan McDonald shooting occurred
Dash-cam video captured the Oct 20, 2014 police shooting of Laquan McDonald; controversy later erupted over withholding the video.
Failed to win outright majority in 2015 general election
In the Feb 24, 2015 general election he received 45.6%, requiring an April runoff with Jesús 'Chuy' García.
Re-elected Mayor of Chicago (2015 runoff)
Defeated Jesús 'Chuy' García in April 7, 2015 runoff with 56.2% of the vote to secure a second term.
Court-ordered release of Laquan McDonald video
Judge ordered release of the dash-cam video on Nov 24, 2015; public outcry followed about administration's handling.
Approval rating plunged — polls as low as ~18%
By December 2015 his approval ratings fell dramatically; one poll showed 18% approval and calls for resignation.
Fired Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy
In late Nov/Dec 2015, Emanuel fired Superintendent McCarthy amid the fallout from the video release and protests.
Appointed Sophia King to 4th Ward (alderman)
Appointed Sophia King as 4th Ward alderman in 2016 to fill a vacancy.
Chicago Tribune polls reported 27% approval (Feb 2016)
A February 2016 Chicago Tribune poll reported Emanuel's approval at 27% amid continuing controversy and investigations.
Announced intent to run for third term
In October 2017 announced he planned to seek a third term as mayor of Chicago.
Appointed Silvana Tabares to 23rd Ward (alderman)
Appointed Silvana Tabares as 23rd Ward alderman in 2018.
Declared he would not run for re-election (2019)
On Sept 4, 2018 Emanuel reversed course and announced he would not seek a third term as mayor.
Left office as Mayor of Chicago
Term ended May 20, 2019; succeeded by Lori Lightfoot.
Publication: The Nation City (book)
Published The Nation City: Why Mayors Are Now Running the World (2020), a book on urban governance.
Nominated U.S. Ambassador to Japan
President Joe Biden nominated Rahm Emanuel to be U.S. Ambassador to Japan (announcement Aug 20, 2021).
Confirmed by U.S. Senate as Ambassador to Japan
Senate confirmed Emanuel's ambassadorship in December 2021 after hearings and debate.
Sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Japan
Assumed office as the 31st U.S. Ambassador to Japan on March 25, 2022.
Departed ambassadorship at end of Biden administration
Left his post as U.S. Ambassador to Japan upon the conclusion of the Biden administration (Jan 15, 2025).
Reported interest in 2028 presidential run
Politico reported on March 12, 2025 that Emanuel was interested in running for president in 2028.
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