History of Rahm Emanuel in Timeline
Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and diplomat who has held several prominent positions. A Democrat, he served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Illinois. He then became White House Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2010. Following his time in the White House, Emanuel served as the Mayor of Chicago for two terms, from 2011 to 2019. More recently, he was the United States Ambassador to Japan from 2022 to 2025, marking a shift into diplomatic service after a long career in domestic politics.
1933: Emanuel Auerbach's Death
In 1933, Emanuel Auerbach, Rahm Emanuel's uncle, died of an infection after being hit by a stray bullet during a conflict in Mandatory Palestine. The Emanuel family adopted the surname in his memory.
November 29, 1959: Rahm Emanuel Born
On November 29, 1959, Rahm Israel Emanuel was born. He later became a prominent American politician and diplomat.
June 1967: Attended Summer Camp in Israel
Following the June 1967 Six-Day War, Rahm Emanuel and his brothers attended summer camp in Israel.
1981: Graduated from Sarah Lawrence College
In 1981, Rahm Emanuel graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a bachelor of arts in liberal arts.
1984: Worked on Paul Simon's Election
In 1984, Rahm Emanuel worked for Democrat Paul Simon's election to the U.S. Senate.
1985: Received Master's Degree from Northwestern University
In 1985, Rahm Emanuel received a master of arts in speech and communication from Northwestern University.
1988: National Campaign Director
In 1988, Rahm Emanuel worked as the national campaign director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
1989: Senior Advisor for Richard M. Daley's Campaign
In 1989, Rahm Emanuel was a senior advisor and chief fund-raiser for Richard M. Daley's successful initial campaign for mayor of Chicago.
1990: Worked for Neil Hartigan's Campaign
In 1990, Rahm Emanuel worked for Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan, conducting opposition research for his gubernatorial campaign.
1991: Volunteer with Israel Defense Forces
During the 1991 Gulf War, Rahm Emanuel participated in a two-week civilian volunteer holiday, Sar-El, assisting the Israel Defense Forces by helping to repair truck brakes.
1992: Director of Finance Committee for Bill Clinton's Presidential Campaign
In 1992, Rahm Emanuel served as the director of the finance committee for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.
1992: Steak Knife Incident
On the night after the 1992 election, Rahm Emanuel plunged a steak knife into a table and shouted "Dead! Dead! Dead!" at a celebratory dinner, listing the names of Democrats and Republicans who "betrayed" them.
1993: Joined Clinton Administration
In 1993, Rahm 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.
1993: Senior Advisor to Clinton
In 1993, Rahm Emanuel served as a senior advisor to President Clinton at the White House.
1994: Strategist for Clinton Initiatives
In 1994, Emanuel was a leading strategist in White House efforts to institute NAFTA, increased deportations of illegal immigrants and the 1994 Crime Bill, among other Clinton initiatives.
1994: Democrats lost control of the House
In 1994, the Democratic Party lost control of the chamber. It was not until 2006 that Emanuel oversaw the wins that allowed the party to regain control.
1998: Senior Advisor to Clinton at the White House
From 1993 to 1998, Emanuel served as a senior advisor to Clinton at the White House, initially as assistant to the president for political affairs and then as senior advisor to the president for policy and strategy.
1998: Joined Wasserstein Perella
In 1998, Rahm Emanuel resigned from his position as an advisor to Bill Clinton and joined the investment banking firm Wasserstein Perella.
1998: Emanuel strongly supported the banning of numerous rifles
In 1998, Rahm Emanuel strongly supported the banning of numerous rifles based upon "sporting purposes" criteria.
1999: Managing Director at Wasserstein Perella
In 1999, Rahm Emanuel became a managing director at the Chicago office of Wasserstein Perella.
2000: Named to Board of Directors of Freddie Mac
In 2000, Rahm Emanuel was named to the Board of Directors of Freddie Mac by President Clinton.
2001: Resigned from Freddie Mac Board
In 2001, Rahm Emanuel resigned from the board of Freddie Mac before his first bid for Congress.
October 2002: Joint Resolution Authorizing Iraq War
In October 2002, Emanuel spoke out in support of the Iraq War, in the lead up to the joint resolution authorizing it.
2002: Emanuel supports President Bush's position on Iraq
During his original 2002 campaign, Rahm Emanuel spoke in support of "President Bush's position on Iraq."
2002: Emanuel supports affordable health care for all Americans
During his original 2002 campaign, Rahm Emanuel spoke in support of the goal "to help make health care affordable and available for all Americans".
2002: Pursued U.S. House Seat
In 2002, Rahm Emanuel pursued the U.S. House seat in the 5th district of Illinois, previously held by Rod Blagojevich.
2002: Elected to Congress
In 2002, Rahm Emanuel was elected to the congressional seat vacated by Rod Blagojevich, who became governor of Illinois.
January 2003: Named to House Financial Services Committee
In January 2003, Rahm Emanuel was named to the House Financial Services Committee and sat on the subcommittee that oversaw Freddie Mac.
December 2003: Emanuel rated "F" by the NRA
In December 2003, Rahm Emanuel was rated "F" by the NRA, indicating his strong support for gun control.
2003: Represented Illinois's 5th Congressional District
From 2003, Rahm Emanuel represented Illinois's 5th congressional district.
2005: Emanuel states he would have supported the Iraq war
In 2005, Rahm Emanuel said that he would have voted for and supported the Iraq war even if he knew that Bush lied about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction since he believed removing Saddam Hussein was "the right thing to do".
April 2006: Emanuel supports Hillary Clinton for 2008 presidency
In April 2006, Emanuel declared his support for Hillary Clinton's potential presidential bid in 2008.
2006: Oversaw Democratic Wins in House Elections
As chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rahm Emanuel oversaw Democratic wins in the 2006 House elections, which allowed the party to gain control of the chamber for the first time since 1994.
2006: Chairman of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
In 2006, Rahm Emanuel assumed the position of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman (DCCC).
2006: Emanuel's role in Democratic victories and subsequent position
In 2006, after aiding the Democrats in winning the elections, Rahm Emanuel was considered for Majority Whip. Instead, Nancy Pelosi convinced him to become Democratic Caucus Chairman, succeeding Jim Clyburn, with Pelosi expanding the role's responsibilities. Following Dick Cheney's claim to be exempt from executive branch orders, Emanuel called for cutting the $4.8 million allocated for the Vice President's office.
2006: Emanuel advocates compulsory universal service program in "The Plan: Big Ideas for America"
In his 2006 book, co-authored with Bruce Reed, "The Plan: Big Ideas for America", Rahm Emanuel advocated a three-month compulsory universal service program for Americans between the ages of 18 and 25.
2006: Emanuel organizes run by Tammy Duckworth against Christine Cegelis
In the 2006 congressional primaries, Rahm Emanuel, then head of the Democratic congressional campaign committee, helped organize a run by Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran with no political experience, against grassroots candidate Christine Cegelis in Illinois' 6th district.
2006: Democratic Party Gained Seats in the House
In the 2006 elections, the Democratic Party gained 30 seats in the House, and Rahm Emanuel received praise for his leadership of the DCCC.
January 2007: Emanuel remains neutral on the Democratic presidential nomination
In January 2007, when questioned about his stance on the Democratic presidential nomination, Emanuel expressed his neutrality due to the conflict between his loyalty to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's interest in the race.
June 2007: Condemnation of Palestinian Violence
In June 2007, Rahm Emanuel condemned an outbreak of Palestinian violence in the Gaza Strip. He also criticized Arab countries for not applying the same pressure on the Palestinians as they have on Israel.
2007: Emanuel Said to Have Mellowed Out
By 2007, friends of Rahm Emanuel were saying that he had "mellowed out".
June 4, 2008: Emanuel Endorses Barack Obama
On June 4, 2008, Rahm Emanuel endorsed Barack Obama for president, following the final primary contests.
November 6, 2008: Emanuel Accepts White House Chief of Staff Position
On November 6, 2008, Rahm Emanuel accepted the position of White House Chief of Staff for U.S. President Barack Obama.
2008: Emanuel described as generally liberal on social issues
In 2008, Rahm Emanuel was described as generally liberal on social issues.
2008: Obama Campaign
In 2008, Rahm Emanuel's close friend David Axelrod was chief strategist for Obama's presidential campaign, and Axelrod signed the ketuba, the Jewish marriage contract, at Emanuel's wedding.
2008: Obama Appointed Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff
In 2008, after Barack Obama won the U.S. presidential election, he appointed Rahm Emanuel to serve as White House chief of staff.
January 2, 2009: Emanuel Resigns from Congress
On January 2, 2009, Rahm Emanuel officially resigned from his congressional seat to become White House Chief of Staff.
March 3, 2009: Special Primary Election Held
On March 3, 2009, a special primary election was held to fill Rahm Emanuel's vacated congressional seat.
2009: Emanuel "begged" Obama to not pursue the ACA.
According to reports, Emanuel aggressively pushed and himself admitted that he "begged" Obama for an entire week in the summer of 2009 to not pursue the Affordable Care Act.
2009: Appointed White House Chief of Staff
Following the 2008 U.S. presidential election, President Barack Obama appointed Rahm Emanuel to serve as White House chief of staff in 2009.
2009: Emanuel on Crisis Management and Influence as Chief of Staff
In 2009, Rahm Emanuel stated that a serious crisis should never go to waste, as it presents an opportunity for significant change. Also in 2009, The New York Times characterized Emanuel as possibly "the most influential chief of staff of a generation".
January 2010: Emanuel's Controversial Remarks and Apology
In January 2010, Rahm Emanuel used a derogatory term during a closed-door White House meeting, which led to criticism and an apology to organizations for mentally disabled people.
September 2010: Speculation of Emanuel's Departure as Chief of Staff
By September 2010, anticipation of heavy Democratic losses in the mid-term elections fueled speculation about Rahm Emanuel's departure as White House Chief of Staff.
September 30, 2010: Emanuel Announces Departure to Run for Chicago Mayor
On September 30, 2010, Rahm Emanuel announced he would leave his role as White House Chief of Staff to run for mayor of Chicago.
October 2010: Resigned as Chief of Staff
In October 2010, Rahm Emanuel resigned as chief of staff to run for mayor of Chicago in 2011.
2010: Emanuel urges Obama to narrow health care reform goals
In 2010, Rahm Emanuel promoted the Obama administration's push for health care reform publicly, but he privately urged President Obama to narrow his goals.
2010: Democrats lost control of the House in Mid-Term Elections
In the 2010 mid-term elections, the Democrats lost control of the House.
December 31, 2010: Emanuel's Campaign Funds Exceed $10.5 Million
By December 31, 2010, Rahm Emanuel had raised more than $10.5 million in additional funds for his mayoral campaign.
January 1, 2011: Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act Takes Effect
On January 1, 2011, the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act took effect, limiting individual personal contributions to candidates to $5,000.
January 24, 2011: Court of Appeals Reverses Decision on Emanuel's Eligibility
On January 24, 2011, the Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court's decision, ruling that residency for a candidate differs from residency for a voter, thereby challenging Rahm Emanuel's eligibility for office.
February 22, 2011: Emanuel Elected Mayor of Chicago
On February 22, 2011, Rahm Emanuel was elected as the 55th Mayor of Chicago with 55% of the vote.
May 16, 2011: Emanuel Sworn in as Mayor of Chicago
On May 16, 2011, Rahm Emanuel was sworn in as the 55th Mayor of Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion, becoming the city's first Jewish mayor.
August 16, 2011: Emanuel unveils "Healthy Chicago"
On August 16, 2011, Rahm Emanuel unveiled "Healthy Chicago", the city's first public health blueprint with Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair. Emanuel also initiated the consolidation of City Council committees from 19 to 16 in a cost control effort.
2011: Ravenswood Residence
As of 2011, Rahm Emanuel and his family lived in the Ravenswood neighborhood on Chicago's North Side.
2011: Emanuel asks City Council to appoint third party negotiator for Lollapalooza tax exemption
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel asked the City Council to appoint an independent third party negotiator regarding Lollapalooza's tax exemption, to avoid having the negotiation seen as biased.
2011: Triathlon Competition
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel trained for and participated in triathlons, scoring 9th out of 80 competitors in his age group.
2011: Won Chicago Mayoral Election
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel won the election with 55% of the vote to become mayor of Chicago.
August 8, 2012: Chicago Teachers Union authorizes a strike
On August 8, 2012, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted 90% to authorize a strike due to disagreements over health insurance increases, teacher evaluations, and seniority pay increases.
August 2012: Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Emanuel
In August 2012, a federal lawsuit was filed by Chicago police officers alleging they were improperly removed from the mayoral security detail and replaced with officers who worked on Emanuel's mayoral campaign.
September 18, 2012: Chicago Teachers Union ends strike
On September 18, 2012, Delegates from the CTU voted to end the strike, and students began their return to the schools the following day.
October 30, 2012: Emanuel supports demolition of Prentice Women's Hospital Building
On October 30, 2012, Rahm Emanuel voiced his support for the demolition of the abandoned Prentice Women's Hospital Building, in order for Northwestern University, which owns the property, to build a new facility.
November 2012: Emanuel lists top priorities for the state legislature
In November 2012, Rahm Emanuel listed his top three priorities for the state legislature: security and pension reform, adding a casino to Chicago, and equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
2012: Chicago becomes a de jure sanctuary city
In 2012, Chicago became a de jure sanctuary city when Emanuel and the City Council passed the Welcoming City Ordinance.
2012: Lollapalooza paid taxes for the first time in seven years and extended contract
In 2012, Lollapalooza paid taxes for the first time in seven years and extended its contract to host in Grant Park through 2021.
2012: Emanuel expresses gratitude for Obama's healthcare decision
In 2012, Rahm Emanuel expressed gratitude that President Obama did not follow his advice on healthcare reform, after the Supreme Court upheld "ObamaCare".
2012: Obama Campaign
In 2012, Rahm Emanuel's close friend David Axelrod was chief strategist for Obama's presidential campaign.
September 17, 2013: Chicago Board of Education announces closing of 50 public schools
On September 17, 2013, the Chicago Board of Education, appointed by Emanuel, announced the closing of 50 Chicago public schools, 49 elementary schools and a high school — the largest school closure in Chicago history.
2013: Emanuel Appoints Natashia Holmes and Deb Mell as aldermen
In 2013, as mayor, Rahm Emanuel appointed Natashia Holmes as 7th Ward alderman and Deb Mell as 33rd Ward alderman to fill vacancies on the Chicago City Council.
August 2014: Emanuel's Approval Rating Reported at 35%
In August 2014, a Chicago Tribune poll reported Rahm Emanuel had a 35% approval rating as mayor of Chicago.
October 20, 2014: Police Murder of Laquan McDonald
On October 20, 2014, Laquan McDonald was murdered by a Chicago police officer, an event that would later bring criticism upon Mayor Emanuel's handling of the case.
April 7, 2015: Emanuel Wins Run-off Election
On April 7, 2015, Rahm Emanuel won the run-off election against Jesús "Chuy" García, securing his second term as mayor with 56 percent of the vote.
December 26, 2015: Police officer kills two in another shooting
On December 26, 2015, a police officer killed two people in another shooting, including a woman whom the officer had shot by mistake.
2015: Re-elected as Mayor of Chicago
Rahm Emanuel was re-elected as mayor of Chicago in 2015.
2015: Cuba Holiday Trip
Rahm Emanuel's 2015 holiday trip was scheduled for the island of Cuba.
February 2016: Chicago Tribune reports Emanuel's approval rating at 27%
In February 2016, the Chicago Tribune reported that Rahm Emanuel's approval rating was 27%. The Chicago Tribune stated that this all-time record low job approval confirms a "public crisis in confidence" for Emanuel, who had been subjected to weeks of public protests, allegations of him covering up the Laquan McDonald police shooting video, as well as a federal civil rights investigation of his police department.
November 2016: JoJo Concert Attendance
In November 2016, Rahm Emanuel, a longtime JoJo fan, attended her concert in Chicago.
2016: Emanuel Appoints Sophia King as Alderman
In 2016, Rahm Emanuel appointed Sophia King as the 4th ward alderman on the Chicago City Council.
March 2017: Chicago Tribune reports Emanuel released previously withheld emails
In March 2017, the Chicago Tribune reported that Emanuel released 2,696 emails he had previously withheld, where there were found to be 26 possible violations of lobbying laws.
October 2017: Emanuel Announces Reelection Campaign
In October 2017, Rahm Emanuel announced he was running for reelection in 2019, despite low approval ratings.
October 2017: Announced Plans to Run for Third Term
In October 2017, Rahm Emanuel announced that he planned to run for a third term as mayor of Chicago.
April 2018: Emanuel Receives Honorary Degree
In April 2018, Rahm Emanuel received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from NUI Galway for achievements in education reform.
September 4, 2018: Changed Mind About Running for Third Term
On September 4, 2018, Rahm Emanuel announced that he had changed his mind and would not run for a third term as mayor of Chicago.
September 2018: Emanuel Decides Not to Run for Reelection
In September 2018, Rahm Emanuel decided not to run for reelection as Mayor of Chicago, citing a desire to "write the next chapter".
2018: Emanuel Appoints Silvana Tabares as Alderman
In 2018, Rahm Emanuel appointed Silvana Tabares as the 23rd Ward alderman on the Chicago City Council.
March 2019: Emanuel declines to appoint interim alderman
In March 2019, Rahm Emanuel chose not to appoint an interim alderman to fill the vacancy left by Willie Cochran's resignation, leaving the seat vacant until March 20.
May 2019: Left Office as Mayor of Chicago
In May 2019, Rahm Emanuel left office as mayor of Chicago and was succeeded by Lori Lightfoot.
May 2019: Emanuel 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: Emanuel joins Centerview Partners as a senior counselor
In June 2019, Rahm Emanuel joined Centerview Partners as a senior counselor.
July 2019: Emanuel serves as political analyst for ABC News
Since July 2019, Rahm Emanuel has served as a political analyst for ABC News.
April 2021: Biden chooses Emanuel as ambassador to Japan
In April 2021 it was reported that Biden had chosen Rahm Emanuel as ambassador to Japan.
August 2021: Nominated as Ambassador to Japan
In August 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Rahm Emanuel to be the United States Ambassador to Japan.
August 2021: Emanuel formally nominated to serve as ambassador to Japan
In August 2021, Rahm Emanuel was formally nominated to serve as ambassador to Japan.
October 20, 2021: Hearings held on Emanuel's nomination in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
On October 20, 2021, hearings were held on Rahm Emanuel's nomination in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
November 3, 2021: Committee favorably reports Emanuel's nomination to the Senate floor
On November 3, 2021, the committee favorably reported Rahm Emanuel's nomination to the Senate floor.
December 18, 2021: United States Senate confirms Emanuel's nomination
On December 18, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed Rahm Emanuel's nomination in a 48–21 vote; senators Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley and Elizabeth Warren were the only Democrats to vote against his confirmation.
2021: Lollapalooza contract extended through 2021
Lollapalooza extended its contract to host in Grant Park through 2021.
March 25, 2022: Emanuel presents credentials to Japanese Emperor Naruhito
On March 25, 2022, Rahm Emanuel presented his credentials to Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
August 7, 2024: Emanuel to skip Nagasaki 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.
2024: Emanuel expresses opposition to transgender rights
Since the 2024 presidential election, Emanuel has expressed opposition to transgender rights.
January 2025: Stepped Down as Ambassador to Japan
In January 2025, Rahm Emanuel stepped down from his position as the United States Ambassador to Japan.
November 2025: Urging Narrative Rebuilding Around Israel's Needs
In November 2025, Rahm Emanuel urged "a long-term rebuilding of the narrative around Israel's needs" at the annual General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). He added "If we do not grasp the depth of the situation, we will never fix it."
2025: Emanuel supports incarceration of transgender women in men's prisons
In a 2025 interview, Rahm Emanuel stated he supports the incarceration of transgender women in men's prisons and does not believe a man could become a woman.
2028: Observers believe Emanuel planning presidential run in 2028
In 2028, many observers believe that Rahm Emanuel is planning to run for president.
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