History of Rahm Emanuel in Timeline
Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and diplomat. A Democrat, he served as a U.S. Representative for Illinois (2003-2009), White House Chief of Staff under President Obama (2009-2010), and Mayor of Chicago (2011-2019). Most recently, he served as the United States Ambassador to Japan (2022-2025).
1933: Death of Emanuel Auerbach
In 1933, Rahm Emanuel's uncle, Emanuel Auerbach, was killed in Jerusalem. The surname Emanuel was adopted 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: Summer Camp in Israel After Six-Day War
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.
1983: Shakman Decree
In August 2012, eleven Chicago police officers filed a federal lawsuit alleging that their removal from the mayoral security detail, due to political considerations in hiring, violated the 1983 Shakman Decree.
1984: Worked for 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 Daley's Mayoral Campaign
In 1989, Rahm Emanuel was a senior advisor and chief fund-raiser for Richard M. Daley's successful campaign for mayor of Chicago.
1990: Worked for Neil Hartigan
In 1990, Rahm Emanuel worked for Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan, conducting opposition research for his gubernatorial campaign.
1991: Volunteer Work During the Gulf War
In 1991, during the Gulf War, Rahm Emanuel participated in a two-week civilian volunteer program (Sar-El), assisting the Israel Defense Forces by repairing truck brakes.
1992: Director of Finance Committee for Clinton's Campaign
In 1992, Rahm Emanuel served as the director of the finance committee for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.
1992: Incident After 1992 Election
On the night after the 1992 election, Rahm Emanuel, angry at Democrats and Republicans who "betrayed" them, plunged a steak knife into a table and shouted "Dead! Dead! Dead!" while rattling off names.
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 Bill Clinton at the White House.
1994: Democratic Party lost control of the chamber
In 1994, the Democratic party lost control of the chamber.
1998: Joined Wasserstein Perella & Co.
In 1998, Rahm Emanuel began working at the investment bank Wasserstein Perella & Co.
1998: End of White House Service
In 1998, Rahm Emanuel concluded his service as a senior advisor to Bill Clinton at the White House.
1998: Resigned and joined Wasserstein Perella
In 1998, Rahm Emanuel resigned from his advisor position and joined the investment banking firm Wasserstein Perella.
1999: Became managing director at Wasserstein Perella
In 1999, Rahm Emanuel became a managing director at Wasserstein Perella's Chicago office.
2000: Named to Freddie Mac Board of Directors
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: Authorization of the Iraq War
In October 2002, Emanuel spoke out in support of the war.
2002: Support of Bush's Position on Iraq
During his 2002 campaign, Rahm Emanuel expressed support for President Bush's position on Iraq, while suggesting that Bush needed to better articulate his position to the American people.
2002: Support for Affordable Healthcare
During his 2002 campaign, Rahm Emanuel expressed support for making healthcare affordable and available to all Americans.
2002: Emanuel pursued the U.S. House seat
In 2002, Emanuel pursued the U.S. House seat in the 5th district of Illinois, previously held by Rod Blagojevich, who successfully ran for governor of Illinois. Edward Moskal, president of the Polish American Congress, called Emanuel a "millionaire carpetbagger".
2002: Ran for U.S. House of Representatives
In 2002, Rahm Emanuel ran for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives vacated by Rod Blagojevich.
January 2003: Named to the 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. He skipped every hearing allegedly for reasons of avoiding any appearance of favoritism, impropriety, or conflict of interest.
December 2003: NRA Rating
In December 2003, Rahm Emanuel received an "F" rating from the NRA, demonstrating his strong support for gun control.
2003: Representing Illinois's 5th congressional district
From 2003, Rahm Emanuel held the seat representing Illinois's 5th congressional district.
2003: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
In 2003, Rahm Emanuel began serving as the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 5th congressional district, a position he held until 2009. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
April 2006: Support for Hillary Clinton's Presidential Ambitions
In April 2006, Rahm Emanuel declared his support for Hillary Clinton should she run for president in 2008.
2006: Democratic Caucus Chairman
After helping the Democrats win the 2006 elections, Nancy Pelosi persuaded Emanuel to become Democratic Caucus Chairman instead of challenging Jim Clyburn for Majority Whip.
2006: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman
In 2006, Emanuel led the Democratic Party's effort to capture the majority in the House of Representatives as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman.
2006: Publication of "The Plan: Big Ideas for America"
In 2006, Rahm Emanuel co-authored the book "The Plan: Big Ideas for America" advocating for a three-month compulsory universal service program for Americans aged 18 to 25.
2006: Oversaw Democratic Wins
In 2006, as chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rahm Emanuel oversaw Democratic wins in the United States House of Representatives elections, allowing the party to gain control of the chamber for the first time since 1994.
2006: Support for Tammy Duckworth's Congressional Run
In the 2006 congressional primaries, Rahm Emanuel, then head of the Democratic congressional campaign committee, supported Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran, against 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 Emanuel received praise for his stewardship of the DCCC.
January 2007: Emanuel's Neutral Stance on Democratic Presidential Nomination
In January 2007, when asked about his stance on the Democratic presidential nomination with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as potential candidates, Rahm Emanuel remained neutral.
June 2007: Condemnation of Palestinian Violence
In June 2007, Rahm Emanuel condemned Palestinian violence in the Gaza Strip and criticized Arab countries for not pressuring Palestinians as they have on Israel.
2007: Emanuel Mellowed Out
By 2007, friends of Rahm Emanuel were saying that he had "mellowed out".
June 4, 2008: Endorsement of Barack Obama
On June 4, 2008, Rahm Emanuel endorsed Barack Obama for president, the day after the final primary contests.
November 6, 2008: Acceptance of White House Chief of Staff Position
On November 6, 2008, Rahm Emanuel accepted the position of White House Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama.
2008: Obama's Proposal of Universal Service Program
In 2008, Barack Obama proposed a similar, expanded version of the universal service initiative that was earlier advocated for by Rahm Emanuel in his 2006 book "The Plan: Big Ideas for America" during his presidential campaign.
2008: Axelrod Signs Ketuba at Emanuel Wedding
In 2008, David Axelrod, chief strategist for Obama's presidential campaign and a close friend, signed the ketuba, the Jewish marriage contract, at Rahm Emanuel's wedding.
2008: Appointed White House Chief of Staff
In 2008, after the U.S. presidential election, President Barack Obama appointed Rahm Emanuel to serve as White House chief of staff.
January 2, 2009: Resignation from Congressional Seat
On January 2, 2009, Rahm Emanuel resigned from his congressional seat to become White House Chief of Staff.
March 3, 2009: Special Primary Election
On March 3, 2009, a special primary was held to fill Rahm Emanuel's vacated congressional seat.
2009: White House Chief of Staff
In 2009, Rahm Emanuel became the White House Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama, a role he held until 2010.
2009: End of term in U.S. House of Representatives
In 2009, Rahm Emanuel's time in the U.S. House of Representatives ended.
2009: Characterized as Influential Chief of Staff
In a 2009 article in The New York Times, Rahm Emanuel was described as "perhaps the most influential chief of staff of a generation".
January 2010: Controversial Remarks at White House Meeting
In January 2010, at a closed-door meeting in the White House, Rahm Emanuel used offensive language, which led to criticism and a subsequent apology to organizations for mentally disabled people.
September 2010: Anticipation of Departure as Chief of Staff
By September 2010, with Democrats anticipating heavy losses in mid-term elections, it was suggested that this would precipitate Rahm Emanuel's departure as chief of staff, after reports of conflicts with other senior members of the president's team and ideological clashes over policy.
September 30, 2010: Announcement of Departure as Chief of Staff
On September 30, 2010, it was announced that Rahm 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 Rahm Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff.
October 2010: Resigned as Chief of Staff
In October 2010, Rahm Emanuel resigned as Chief of Staff to run in the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.
2010: Resigned as White House Chief of Staff
In 2010, Rahm Emanuel resigned from his position as White House Chief of Staff to run in the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.
2010: Democrats Lost Control of the House
In 2010, the Democrats lost control of the House in the mid-term elections.
December 31, 2010: Fundraising Success
By December 31, 2010, Rahm Emanuel had raised more than $10.5 million in additional funds for his 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 Ruling on Residency
On January 24, 2011, the Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court, holding that residency for candidacy differs from residency for voting, challenging Rahm Emanuel's eligibility for office.
February 22, 2011: Election as 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: Inauguration as Mayor of Chicago
On May 16, 2011, Rahm Emanuel was sworn in as the 55th Mayor of Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion.
August 16, 2011: Unveiling of "Healthy Chicago"
On August 16, 2011, Rahm Emanuel unveiled "Healthy Chicago", which was the city's first public health blueprint, in collaboration with Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair.
2011: Family Lives in Ravenswood
As of 2011, Rahm Emanuel, his wife Amy Merritt Rule, and their children lived in the Ravenswood neighborhood on Chicago's north side.
2011: Lollapalooza Tax Exemption
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel asked the City Council to appoint an independent third-party negotiator to avoid bias in the negotiation regarding Lollapalooza's tax exemption, an event co-owned by his brother.
2011: Elected Mayor of Chicago
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election with 55% of the vote, defeating five other candidates.
2011: Won Chicago Mayoral Election
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election with 55% of the vote.
2011: Participates in Triathlons
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel, who trains for and participates in triathlons, scored 9th out of 80 competitors in his age group.
August 8, 2012: CTU Authorizes Strike
On August 8, 2012, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted 90% to authorize a strike due to disagreements with the city over health insurance increases, teacher evaluations, and seniority pay increases.
August 2012: Federal Lawsuit Filed
In August 2012, a federal lawsuit was filed by Chicago police officers alleging they were removed from the mayoral security detail and replaced with officers who worked on Emanuel's mayoral campaign.
September 18, 2012: CTU Delegates Vote to End 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: Emanuel Supports Demolition of Prentice Women's Hospital
On October 30, 2012, Rahm Emanuel voiced his support for the demolition of the abandoned Prentice Women's Hospital Building to allow Northwestern University to construct a new facility, leading to conflict with preservationists.
November 2012: City Council Adopts Mayor's First Budget
In November 2012, the Chicago City Council voted to adopt Mayor Emanuel's first budget, which decreased the budget by $34 million and increased spending by $46.2 million.
2012: Chicago Becomes 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: Axelrod Signs Ketuba at Emanuel Wedding
In 2012, David Axelrod, chief strategist for Obama's presidential campaign and a close friend, signed the ketuba, the Jewish marriage contract, at Rahm Emanuel's wedding.
2012: Lollapalooza Pays Taxes and Extends 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.
2012: Supreme Court Upheld "ObamaCare"
In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld "ObamaCare", after which Rahm Emanuel apologized for his role in scaling back the healthcare initiative, stating, "Thank God for the country, he didn't listen to me".
September 17, 2013: Chicago School Closures Announced
On September 17, 2013, the Chicago Board of Education, appointed by Rahm Emanuel, announced the closing of 50 Chicago public schools, marking the largest school closure in Chicago history.
2013: Appointment of Aldermen
In 2013, as mayor, Emanuel appointed Natashia Holmes as 7th Ward alderman and Deb Mell as 33rd Ward alderman.
August 2014: Approval Rating as Mayor of Chicago
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 incident that led to significant controversy and criticism of Rahm Emanuel's handling of the aftermath.
April 7, 2015: Emanuel Won 56 percent of the Vote
On April 7, 2015, Rahm Emanuel won the run-off election against Jesús "Chuy" García with 56 percent of the vote despite criticism of school closures and gun violence.
November 24, 2015: Release of Laquan McDonald Shooting Video
On November 24, 2015, the dash-cam video of the Laquan McDonald shooting was released after a judge's order, leading to widespread condemnation of Rahm Emanuel for allegedly covering up the incident.
December 26, 2015: Police Shooting Incident
On December 26, 2015, a Chicago police officer fatally shot two people, including a woman shot by mistake, further intensifying the crisis surrounding the Chicago Police Department and Rahm Emanuel's leadership.
2015: Chicago Mayoral Election and Approval Rating Decline
In 2015, Rahm Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election after a run-off. Later in 2015, his approval rating declined due to a series of scandals.
2015: Holiday Trip to Cuba
In 2015, Rahm Emanuel's family holiday trip was scheduled for the island of Cuba, as part of their tradition of exposing their children to different cultures.
February 2016: Approval Ratings Drop
In February 2016, Chicago Tribune polls reported that Rahm Emanuel's approval ratings had dropped to 27% for his role as the Mayor of Chicago.
2016: Appointment of Sophia King
In 2016, Rahm Emanuel appointed Sophia King as 4th ward alderman.
2016: Attended JoJo Concert
In November 2016, Rahm Emanuel, a longtime JoJo fan, attended her concert in Chicago.
March 2017: Release of Withheld Emails
In March 2017, the Chicago Tribune reported that Rahm Emanuel released 2,696 emails he had previously withheld, which revealed 26 possible violations of lobbying laws.
October 2017: Announced Plans to Run for Third Term
In October 2017, Rahm Emanuel announced his plan to run for a third term as mayor of Chicago.
October 2017: Announcement of Reelection Campaign
In October 2017, Rahm Emanuel announced that he was running for reelection in 2019, despite low approval ratings.
April 2018: Honorary Degree from NUI Galway
In April 2018, Rahm Emanuel received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from NUI Galway, a university in Chicago's sister city of Galway, Ireland, for achievements in education reform as Mayor.
September 4, 2018: Reversed Decision to Run for Third Term
On September 4, 2018, Rahm Emanuel reversed his decision to run for a third term as mayor of Chicago.
September 2018: Decision Not to Run for Reelection
In September 2018, Rahm Emanuel decided not to run for reelection in 2019, citing uncertainty about his devotion to a third term.
2018: Appointment of Silvana Tabares
In 2018, Rahm Emanuel appointed Silvana Tabares as 23rd Ward alderman.
March 2019: Decision Not to Appoint Interim Alderman
Following Willie Cochran's resignation in March 2019, Rahm Emanuel chose not to appoint an interim alderman to fill the seat until the successor was elected.
May 2019: Left Office as Mayor
In May 2019, Rahm 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 the founding executive chair of the National BAM Advisory Council of the Becoming A Man youth program.
June 2019: Joins Centerview Partners
In June 2019, Rahm Emanuel joined Centerview Partners as a senior counselor.
July 2019: Serves as Political Analyst for ABC News
Since July 2019, Rahm Emanuel has served as a political analyst for ABC News.
2019: Left office as Mayor of Chicago
In May 2019, Rahm Emanuel left office as the Mayor of Chicago, and was succeeded by Lori Lightfoot.
2019: Intention to Run Reelection Announced in 2017
In October 2017 Rahm Emanuel announced his intention to run for reelection in 2019, but in September 2018, decided not to run for reelection.
April 2021: Nominated as Ambassador to Japan
In April 2021, it was reported that President Biden had chosen Rahm Emanuel as the ambassador to Japan.
August 2021: Nominated as United States Ambassador to Japan
In August 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Rahm Emanuel to be the United States Ambassador to Japan.
August 2021: Formal Nomination as Ambassador
In August 2021, Rahm Emanuel was formally nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Japan.
October 20, 2021: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearings
On October 20, 2021, hearings were held on Rahm Emanuel's nomination in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
November 3, 2021: Committee Favors Nomination
On November 3, 2021, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee favorably reported Rahm Emanuel's nomination to the Senate floor.
December 18, 2021: Senate Confirms Nomination
On December 18, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed Rahm Emanuel's nomination as ambassador to Japan with a 48-21 vote.
2021: Lollapalooza Contract Extension
In 2021, Lollapalooza was still under the contract extension, to be hosted in Grant Park through 2021, previously negotiated in 2012.
March 25, 2022: Presents Credentials to Japanese Emperor
On March 25, 2022, Rahm Emanuel presented his credentials to Japanese Emperor Naruhito, officially assuming his role as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
2022: Appointed United States Ambassador to Japan
In 2022, Rahm Emanuel was appointed as the United States Ambassador to Japan.
2023: Michigan Residence Vandalized
In late 2023, Rahm Emanuel's Michigan residence was vandalized with the word "Nazis" spray-painted on its fence.
August 7, 2024: Skipping 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.
January 2025: Departed Job in Japan
In January 2025, Rahm Emanuel departed his job in Japan upon the conclusion of the Biden administration.
March 12, 2025: Expressed Interest in Running for President
On March 12, 2025, Rahm Emanuel expressed interest in running for president in the 2028 United States presidential election.
2025: Departure from ambassadorship and expressed presidential interest
In January 2025, Rahm Emanuel departed from his job as United States Ambassador to Japan. Later, on March 12, 2025, he expressed interest in running for president in the 2028 United States presidential election.
2028: Prospective Presidential Run
Rahm Emanuel expressed interest in running for president in the 2028 United States presidential election.
Mentioned in this timeline
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