Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Rahm Emanuel

Discover the career path of Rahm Emanuel, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Rahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician, diplomat, and former investment banker. A prominent member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative for Illinois (2003-2009), White House Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama (2009-2010), and Mayor of Chicago (2011-2019). Most recently, he was the United States ambassador to Japan (2022-2025). His career spans legislative, executive, and diplomatic roles, marking him as a significant figure in American politics.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1984: Worked for Paul Simon's Campaign

In 1984, Emanuel worked for Democrat Paul Simon's election to the U.S. Senate.

1988: Campaign Director

In 1988, Emanuel worked as the national campaign director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

1989: Advisor for Daley's Campaign

In 1989, Emanuel was senior advisor and chief fund-raiser for Richard M. Daley's campaign for mayor of Chicago.

1990: Worked for Neil Hartigan

In 1990, Emanuel worked for Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan, conducting opposition research for his gubernatorial campaign.

1991: Volunteer Work in Israel

In 1991, during the Gulf War, Emanuel volunteered with the Israel Defense Forces through the Sar-El program, assisting with truck repairs.

1992: Director of Finance Committee

In 1992, Emanuel served as director of the finance committee for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.

1993: Senior Advisor to Clinton

From 1993, Emanuel served as a senior advisor to Clinton at the White House.

1993: Joined Clinton Administration

In 1993, Emanuel joined the Clinton administration, serving as assistant to the president for political affairs and as senior advisor to the president for policy and strategy.

1994: Democrats lost control of the chamber

As chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, he oversaw Democratic wins in the 2006 U.S. House of Representatives elections, allowing the party to gain control of the chamber for the first time since 1994.

1998: Joined Wasserstein Perella & Co.

In 1998, Emanuel began working at the investment bank Wasserstein Perella & Co.

1998: End of White House Role

In 1998, Emanuel's time as senior advisor to Clinton at the White House concluded.

1999: Managing Director at Wasserstein Perella

In 1999, Emanuel became a managing director at Wasserstein Perella's Chicago office.

2000: Named to Freddie Mac Board of Directors

In 2000, Emanuel was named to the Board of Directors of Freddie Mac by President Clinton.

2001: Resigned from Freddie Mac Board

In 2001, Emanuel resigned from the board of Freddie Mac before his first bid for Congress.

October 2002: Authorized the Iraq War

Emanuel was elected after the October 2002 joint resolution authorizing the Iraq War, and so did not vote on it. However, in the lead up to the resolution, Emanuel spoke out in support of the war.

2002: Election to the House

In 2002, Emanuel pursued and won the U.S. House seat in the 5th district of Illinois.

2002: Ran for U.S. House Seat

In 2002, Emanuel ran for the U.S. House of Representatives seat vacated by Rod Blagojevich.

January 2003: Named to House Financial Services Committee

In January 2003, Emanuel was named to the House Financial Services Committee and sat on the subcommittee that oversaw Freddie Mac.

2003: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2003, Emanuel won the first of three terms representing Illinois's 5th congressional district.

April 2006: Declared Support for Hillary Clinton's Presidential Ambitions

In April 2006, Emanuel declared that he would support Hillary Clinton should she pursue the presidency in 2008. At the time, Emanuel had remained close to Clinton, strategizing with her regularly as chairman of the DCCC.

2006: Co-authored "The Plan: Big Ideas for America"

In 2006, Emanuel co-authored "The Plan: Big Ideas for America" with Bruce Reed. In the book, he advocated a three-month compulsory universal service program for Americans between the ages of 18 and 25.

The Plan: Big Ideas for America

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2006: Led Democratic Party Effort

In 2006, Emanuel, as chairman, led the Democratic Party's effort to capture the majority in the House of Representatives.

2006: Oversaw Democratic Wins

In 2006, as chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Emanuel oversaw Democratic wins in the U.S. House of Representatives elections.

2006: Democratic Party Gained Seats

In the 2006 elections, the Democratic Party gained 30 seats in the House, and Emanuel received considerable praise for his leadership of the DCCC.

November 6, 2008: Accepted White House Chief of Staff Position

On November 6, 2008, Emanuel accepted the position of White House Chief of Staff for U.S. President Barack Obama.

2008: Appointed White House Chief of Staff

Following the 2008 U.S. presidential election, President Barack Obama appointed Emanuel to serve as White House chief of staff.

January 2, 2009: Resigned Congressional Seat

On January 2, 2009, Emanuel resigned from his congressional seat to serve as White House Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama.

2009: Characterized as 'Most Influential Chief of Staff'

In 2009, Emanuel was characterized as being "perhaps the most influential chief of staff of a generation" in an article in The New York Times.

2009: End of Congressional Term

In 2009, Emanuel's service in the U.S. House of Representatives came to an end.

2009: Becomes White House Chief of Staff

In 2009, Rahm Emanuel became the White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama.

September 30, 2010: Announced Departure to Run for Mayor of Chicago

On September 30, 2010, it was announced that Emanuel would leave his post as White House Chief of Staff to run for Mayor of Chicago.

October 2, 2010: Pete Rouse replaced Emanuel

On October 2, 2010, Pete Rouse replaced Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff.

October 2010: Resigned as Chief of Staff

In October 2010, Emanuel resigned as White House chief of staff to run in the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.

2010: Democrats lost control of the House

Howie Klein suggested that Emanuel's congressional campaign strategy contributed to the Democrats losing control of the House in the 2010 mid-term elections.

2010: White House chief of staff

Rahm Emanuel served as the White House chief of staff from 2009 to 2010 under President Barack Obama.

February 22, 2011: Elected Mayor of Chicago

On February 22, 2011, Emanuel was elected Mayor of Chicago with 55% of the vote.

May 16, 2011: Sworn in as Mayor of Chicago

On May 16, 2011, Emanuel was sworn in as the 55th Mayor of Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion, becoming Chicago's first Jewish mayor.

August 16, 2011: Unveiled "Healthy Chicago"

On August 16, 2011, Rahm Emanuel unveiled "Healthy Chicago", the city's first public health blueprint, alongside Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair.

2011: Won Chicago Mayoral Election

In 2011, Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election with 55% of the vote.

2011: Mayor of Chicago

In 2011, Rahm Emanuel became mayor of Chicago.

September 18, 2012: Chicago Teachers Union Ends Strike

On September 18, 2012, delegates from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted to end the strike, with students returning to schools the following day.

October 30, 2012: Expressed Support for Prentice Women's Hospital Demolition

On October 30, 2012, Rahm Emanuel voiced his support for the demolition of the abandoned Prentice Women's Hospital Building, so Northwestern University could build a new facility.

2012: Chicago Became a Sanctuary City

In 2012, Chicago became a de jure sanctuary city when Rahm Emanuel and the City Council passed the Welcoming City Ordinance.

2012: Lollapalooza Paid Taxes and Extended Contract

In 2012, Lollapalooza paid taxes for the first time in seven years and extended its contract to be hosted in Grant Park through 2021.

2013: Appointed Natashia Holmes and Deb Mell as aldermen

In 2013, Rahm Emanuel appointed Natashia Holmes as 7th Ward alderman and Deb Mell as 33rd Ward alderman to fill vacancies on the Chicago City Council.

April 7, 2015: Won Run-Off Election

On April 7, 2015, Emanuel won 56 percent of the vote in the run-off election against Jesús "Chuy" García.

2015: Chicago Mayoral Election

In 2015, Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election after a run-off election, and his approval rating later plunged due to a series of scandals.

2016: Appointed Sophia King as 4th ward alderman

In 2016, Rahm Emanuel appointed Sophia King as 4th Ward alderman to fill a vacancy on the Chicago City Council.

October 2017: Announced plan to run for third term

In October 2017, Emanuel announced he planned to run for a third term as mayor of Chicago.

October 2017: Announced Reelection Campaign

In October 2017, Emanuel announced that he was running for reelection in 2019.

September 4, 2018: Reversed decision to run for third term

On September 4, 2018, Emanuel reversed his decision to run for a third term as mayor of Chicago.

September 2018: Decided Not to Run for Reelection

In September 2018, Emanuel decided not to run for reelection. He mentioned conferring with his wife and children before announcing the decision and that he felt it was time to "write the next chapter."

2018: Appointed Silvana Tabares as 23rd ward alderman

In 2018, Rahm Emanuel appointed Silvana Tabares as 23rd Ward alderman to fill a vacancy on the Chicago City Council.

March 2019: Left Alderman Seat Vacant

In March 2019, following Willie Cochran's resignation, Emanuel did not appoint an interim alderman for the 20th Ward, leaving the seat vacant.

May 2019: Left office as Mayor of Chicago

In May 2019, Emanuel left office as mayor of Chicago and was succeeded by Lori Lightfoot.

May 2019: Named Founding Executive Chair of National BAM Advisory Council

In May 2019, Rahm Emanuel was named founding executive chair of the National BAM Advisory Council of the Becoming A Man youth program.

June 2019: Joined Centerview Partners

In June 2019, Rahm Emanuel joined Centerview Partners as a senior counselor.

July 2019: Served as Political Analyst for ABC News

Since July 2019, Rahm Emanuel has also served as a political analyst for ABC News.

2019: End of Chicago Mayorship

In 2019, Rahm Emanuel's tenure as mayor of Chicago came to an end.

February 2021: Considered for Ambassadorship

In February 2021, it was reported that Emanuel was being considered by the Biden administration as an ambassador to either China or Japan.

April 2021: Chosen as Ambassador to Japan

In April 2021, it was reported that Biden had chosen Emanuel as ambassador to Japan.

August 2021: Nominated as Ambassador to Japan

In August 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Emanuel to be the United States Ambassador to Japan.

October 20, 2021: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearings

On October 20, 2021, hearings were held on Rahm Emanuel's nomination as ambassador in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

November 3, 2021: Nomination Favorably Reported to Senate Floor

On November 3, 2021, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee favorably reported Rahm Emanuel's nomination as ambassador to the Senate floor.

December 18, 2021: Confirmed as Ambassador to Japan

On December 18, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed Rahm Emanuel's nomination as Ambassador to Japan in a 48–21 vote.

2021: Lollapalooza contract extended through 2021

In 2021, Lollapalooza's contract was to be hosted in Grant Park

March 25, 2022: Presented Credentials to Japanese Emperor

On March 25, 2022, Rahm Emanuel presented his credentials to Japanese Emperor Naruhito, officially beginning his role as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

2022: Appointed U.S. Ambassador to Japan

In 2022, Rahm Emanuel was appointed United States ambassador to Japan.

August 7, 2024: Skipped Memorial Ceremony

On August 7, 2024, it was announced that Rahm Emanuel would skip attending a memorial ceremony to the atomic bombing of Nagasaki because Israel was not invited to the ceremony.