History of Rahm Emanuel in Timeline
Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and diplomat. He served as United States ambassador to Japan (2022-2025). A Democrat, he represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives (2003-2009). He then became White House Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama (2009-2010) and was the Mayor of Chicago for two terms (2011-2019).
1933: Family Adopted Emanuel Surname
In 1933, the Emanuel family adopted the surname Emanuel in memory of Rahm's uncle, Emanuel Auerbach, who died of an infection after being hit by a stray bullet in Jerusalem during the 1933 Palestine riots.
November 29, 1959: Rahm Emanuel Born
On November 29, 1959, Rahm Israel Emanuel was born. He is an American politician, diplomat, and former investment banker.
June 1967: Emanuel Attended Summer Camp in Israel
During the summer following the June 1967 Six-Day War, Rahm Emanuel and his brothers attended summer camp in Israel.
1981: Emanuel 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
The Shakman Decree was issued in 1983, it bars city officials from making political considerations in the hiring process. Rahm Emanuel was sued because officers alleged they were removed from the mayoral security detail and replaced with officers who worked on Emanuel's mayoral campaign, in violation of the Shakman Decree.
1984: Emanuel Worked on Paul Simon's Senate Election
In 1984, Rahm Emanuel worked for Democrat Paul Simon's election to the U.S. Senate.
1985: Emanuel Received Master's Degree from Northwestern University
In 1985, Rahm Emanuel received a master of arts in speech and communication from Northwestern University.
1988: Emanuel Served as National Campaign Director
In 1988, Rahm Emanuel worked as the national campaign director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
1989: Emanuel Advised Richard M. Daley's Mayoral Campaign
In 1989, Rahm Emanuel was senior advisor and chief fund-raiser for Richard M. Daley's successful initial campaign for mayor of Chicago.
1990: Emanuel Conducted Opposition Research for Neil Hartigan
In 1990, Rahm Emanuel worked for Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan, conducting opposition research for his gubernatorial campaign.
1991: Emanuel Volunteered with Israel Defense Forces
In 1991, Rahm Emanuel volunteered with the Israel Defense Forces during the Gulf War through the Sar-El program, assisting in repairing truck brakes.
1992: Emanuel Directed Finance Committee for Clinton's Presidential Campaign
In 1992, Rahm Emanuel served as the director of the finance committee for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.
1992: Emanuel's Outburst After Election
In 1992, on the night after the election, Rahm Emanuel, angry at Democrats and Republicans who "betrayed" them, stood up at a celebratory dinner and began plunging a steak knife into the table, shouting "Dead! Dead! Dead!" while rattling off names.
1993: Emanuel Became Senior Advisor to Clinton
In 1993, Rahm Emanuel became a senior advisor to Bill Clinton at the White House.
1993: Emanuel 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.
1994: Democrats Gained Control of the Chamber
In 1994, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee oversaw Democratic wins in the U.S. House of Representatives elections, allowing the party to gain control of the chamber for the first time since 1994.
1998: Support for Banning Rifles
In 1998, Emanuel strongly supported the banning of numerous rifles based upon "sporting purposes" criteria.
1998: Emanuel Joined Wasserstein Perella & Co.
In 1998, Rahm Emanuel began working at the investment bank Wasserstein Perella & Co.
1998: Emanuel Remained Senior Advisor to Clinton
In 1998, Rahm Emanuel remained a senior advisor to Bill Clinton at the White House.
1999: Emanuel Became Managing Director at Wasserstein Perella
In 1999, Rahm Emanuel became a managing director at Wasserstein Perella's Chicago office.
2000: Emanuel Appointed to Freddie Mac Board
In 2000, Rahm Emanuel was named to the Board of Directors of Freddie Mac by President Clinton.
2001: Emanuel Resigned from Freddie Mac Board
In 2001, Rahm Emanuel resigned from the Board of Directors of Freddie Mac before his first bid for Congress.
October 2002: Emanuel Supported Iraq War
After the October 2002 joint resolution authorizing the Iraq War, Rahm Emanuel spoke out in support of the war.
2002: Support for President Bush's Position on Iraq
During his original 2002 campaign, Emanuel "indicated his support of President Bush's position on Iraq, but said he believed the President needed to better articulate his position to the American people".
2002: Support for Affordable Health Care
During his original 2002 campaign, Emanuel spoke in support of the goal "to help make health care affordable and available for all Americans".
2002: Emanuel Pursued U.S. House Seat
In 2002, Rahm Emanuel pursued the U.S. House seat in the 5th district of Illinois and won the primary and general election.
2002: Emanuel 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: Emanuel Named to House Financial Services Committee
In January 2003, Rahm Emanuel was named to the House Financial Services Committee and the subcommittee that oversaw Freddie Mac.
2003: Emanuel Represented Illinois in U.S. House of Representatives
In 2003, Rahm Emanuel began representing Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives, a position he held for three terms.
2003: Emanuel Represented Illinois's 5th Congressional District
In 2003, Rahm Emanuel began representing Illinois's 5th congressional district.
April 2006: Emanuel Supports Hillary Clinton
In April 2006, Rahm Emanuel declared his support for Hillary Clinton's potential presidential run in 2008. Emanuel had maintained a close relationship with Clinton since leaving the White House, regularly discussing strategy as chairman of the DCCC.
2006: Emanuel Led Democratic Effort to Capture House Majority
In 2006, Rahm Emanuel, as Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman, led the Democratic Party's effort to capture the majority in the House of Representatives.
2006: Emanuel Oversaw Democratic Wins as DCCC Chair
In 2006, as chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rahm Emanuel oversaw Democratic wins in the U.S. House of Representatives elections.
2006: Proposal for Compulsory Universal Service Program
In his 2006 book, co-authored with Bruce Reed, The Plan: Big Ideas for America, Emanuel advocated a three-month compulsory universal service program for Americans between the ages of 18 and 25.
2006: Emanuel helps organize a run by Tammy Duckworth
In the 2006 congressional primaries, 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 30 Seats
In the 2006 elections, the Democratic Party gained 30 seats in the House, and Rahm Emanuel received praise for his stewardship of the DCCC.
January 2007: Emanuel on the Democratic Presidential Nomination
In January 2007, when asked about his stance on the Democratic presidential nomination involving Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel humorously stated he was "hiding under the desk" to avoid taking sides, emphasizing his neutrality at that time.
June 2007: Condemnation of Palestinian Violence
In June 2007, Emanuel condemned an outbreak of Palestinian violence in the Gaza Strip and criticized Arab countries for not applying the same kind of pressure on the 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: Emanuel Endorses Obama
On June 4, 2008, Rahm Emanuel publicly endorsed Barack Obama for president. This decision came after remaining neutral in the Democratic primary race until after the final primary contests. Emanuel's support for Obama created a conflict because he had previously supported Hillary Clinton.
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 President Barack Obama.
2008: David Axelrod's role in Obama's campaign
In 2008, David Axelrod, a close friend of Rahm Emanuel, served as the chief strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
2008: Emanuel Described as Generally Liberal
In 2008, Emanuel was described as generally liberal on social issues.
2008: Obama Appointed Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff
In 2008, President Barack Obama appointed Rahm Emanuel to serve as White House chief of staff.
January 2, 2009: Emanuel Resigns Congressional Seat
On January 2, 2009, Rahm Emanuel officially resigned from his seat in Congress, in order to serve as White House Chief of Staff.
March 3, 2009: Special Primary Election Held
On March 3, 2009, a special primary election was held to fill the congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel after he became White House Chief of Staff.
2009: Emanuel Served as White House Chief of Staff
In 2009, Rahm Emanuel became the White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama.
2009: Emanuel Ended Term Representing Illinois's 5th Congressional District
In 2009, Rahm Emanuel's tenure representing Illinois's 5th congressional district came to an end.
2009: Emanuel Advocates for Scaled-Down Health Care Plan
In the summer of 2009, Emanuel advocated for a scaled-down health care plan focused on expanding coverage for lower-income families and children, and targeting a few specific insurance industry practices.
January 2010: Emanuel's Controversial Remark
In January 2010, at a closed-door meeting in the White House, Rahm Emanuel used offensive language to describe liberal activists who planned to run TV ads against conservative Democrats not supporting Obama's healthcare overhaul. After the remarks became public, Emanuel apologized to organizations for mentally disabled people.
September 30, 2010: Emanuel Announces Departure to Run for Mayor
On September 30, 2010, Rahm Emanuel announced that he would be leaving his position 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: Emanuel Resigned as Chief of Staff
In October 2010, Rahm Emanuel resigned as White House chief of staff to run in the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.
2010: Emanuel's Private Urging on Health Care Reform
In 2010, Emanuel promoted the Obama administration's push for health care reform publicly but he privately urged President Obama to narrow his goals.
2010: Emanuel Served as White House Chief of Staff
In 2010, Rahm Emanuel continued to serve as the White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama.
2010: Criticism for Recruiting Right-Leaning Candidates
In 2010, Rahm Emanuel faced criticism for his failure to support progressive candidates and for recruiting right-leaning candidates, which some believe contributed to later Republican majorities.
December 31, 2010: Emanuel Raises Millions
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 Ruling on Emanuel's Residency
On January 24, 2011, the Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court's decision regarding Rahm Emanuel's eligibility to run for mayor, arguing that residency for a candidate differed from residency for a voter due to his time serving as White House chief of staff. The Illinois Supreme Court would later reverse this decision, affirming Emanuel's eligibility.
February 22, 2011: Emanuel Elected Mayor of Chicago
On February 22, 2011, Rahm Emanuel was elected as the 55th Mayor of Chicago, securing 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, marking him as Chicago's first Jewish mayor.
August 16, 2011: Unveiling of "Healthy Chicago"
On August 16, 2011, Emanuel unveiled "Healthy Chicago", the city's first public health blueprint, alongside Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair.
2011: Family resided in Ravenswood neighborhood
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel and his family, including his wife Amy Merritt Rule and their children, were residing in the Ravenswood neighborhood on Chicago's north side.
2011: Emanuel requests independent negotiator for Lollapalooza deal
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel asked the City Council to appoint an independent third party negotiator for Lollapalooza, to avoid having the negotiation seen as biased. It was later revealed that the festival received its tax exemption for 2011 in the final days of the Daley administration.
2011: Emanuel Became Mayor of Chicago
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel became the Mayor of Chicago.
2011: Competed in triathlon
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel participated in a triathlon and scored 9th out of 80 competitors in his age group.
2011: Emanuel Won Chicago Mayoral Election
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election with 55% of the vote.
August 8, 2012: Chicago Teachers Union Authorizes Strike
On August 8, 2012, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted 90% to authorize a strike due to lack of compromise on health insurance increases, teacher evaluations, and seniority pay increases.
August 2012: Lawsuit Filed Against Emanuel
In August 2012, eleven Chicago police officers filed a federal lawsuit alleging they were removed from the mayoral security detail and replaced with officers who worked on Emanuel's mayoral campaign, a violation of the 1983 Shakman Decree.
September 18, 2012: Chicago Teachers Union Strike Ends
On September 18, 2012, delegates from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted to end the strike, and students began returning to schools the following day.
October 30, 2012: Emanuel supports demolition of Prentice Women's Hospital Building
On October 30, 2012, Emanuel voiced his support for the demolition of the abandoned Prentice Women's Hospital Building to allow Northwestern University to build a new facility, conflicting with preservationists seeking historical landmark status.
November 2012: City Council Adopts Emanuel's First Budget
In November 2012, the Chicago City Council unanimously adopted Rahm Emanuel's first budget, which decreased the budget by $34 million and increased spending by $46.2 million, supported by increasing fees and fines.
2012: Chicago Becomes a Sanctuary City
In 2012, Chicago officially became a sanctuary city when Emanuel and the City Council passed the Welcoming City Ordinance.
2012: David Axelrod's role in Obama's campaign
In 2012, David Axelrod, a close friend of Rahm Emanuel, served as the chief strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
2012: Lollapalooza pays taxes and extends contract
In 2012, Lollapalooza paid taxes for the first time in seven years and extended its contract to host in Grant Park through 2021.
September 17, 2013: Closure of 50 Chicago Public Schools
On September 17, 2013, Emanuel's appointed Chicago Board of Education announced the closing of 50 Chicago public schools, including 49 elementary schools and one high school, marking the largest school closure in Chicago history.
2013: Emanuel Appoints Natashia Holmes and Deb Mell as Alderman
In 2013, 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
In August 2014, a Chicago Tribune poll indicated that 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 Chicago police. Rahm Emanuel faced criticism for his handling of the case.
April 7, 2015: Emanuel Wins Re-election
On April 7, 2015, Rahm Emanuel won the run-off election against Jesús "Chuy" García, securing 56% of the vote and a second term as mayor.
November 24, 2015: Release of Laquan McDonald Shooting Video
On November 24, 2015, the dash-cam video of the October 20, 2014 police shooting of Laquan McDonald was released after a judge ordered it. This led to widespread condemnation of Rahm Emanuel for allegedly covering up the incident.
December 26, 2015: Police shooting incident
On December 26, 2015, a police officer was involved in another shooting incident that resulted in the death of two people, including a woman who was shot by mistake.
2015: Emanuel Won Chicago Mayoral Election Run-off
In 2015, Rahm Emanuel defeated Jesús "Chuy" García in the Chicago mayoral election run-off after failing to obtain an absolute majority in the first round.
2015: Holiday trip to Cuba
In 2015, Rahm Emanuel scheduled his family holiday trip to the island of Cuba.
February 2016: Emanuel's Approval Ratings Plummet
In February 2016, polls from the Chicago Tribune reported Emanuel's approval ratings had dropped to 27% due to his role as Mayor of Chicago. 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 and allegations of him covering up the Laquan McDonald police shooting video.
November 2016: Attended JoJo concert
In November 2016, Rahm Emanuel, a longtime fan of JoJo, attended her concert in Chicago.
2016: Emanuel Appoints Sophia King as Alderman
In 2016, Rahm Emanuel appointed Sophia King as 4th ward alderman to fill a vacancy on the Chicago City Council.
March 2017: Release of Withheld Government Emails and Possible Lobbying Violations
In March 2017, the Chicago Tribune reported that Emanuel released 2,696 emails he had previously withheld, and the emails revealed 26 possible violations of lobbying laws.
October 2017: Emanuel Announces Reelection Bid
In October 2017, Rahm Emanuel announced his intention to run for reelection in 2019, despite facing low approval ratings and potential serious challengers.
October 2017: Emanuel Announced Plans to Run for Third Term
In October 2017, Rahm Emanuel announced his plans 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, a university in Chicago's sister city of Galway, Ireland, recognizing his achievements in education reform as mayor.
September 4, 2018: Emanuel 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: Emanuel Decides Not to Run for Reelection
In September 2018, Rahm Emanuel decided not to seek reelection as mayor of Chicago.
2018: Emanuel Appoints Silvana Tabares as Alderman
In 2018, Rahm Emanuel appointed Silvana Tabares as 23rd Ward alderman to fill a vacancy on the Chicago City Council.
March 2019: Emanuel Declines to Appoint Interim Alderman
In March 2019, following the resignation of Willie Cochran, Rahm Emanuel chose not to appoint an interim alderman for the 20th Ward, leaving the seat vacant until the successor elected in the April runoff assumed office.
May 2019: Emanuel named Founding Executive Chair of the National BAM Advisory Council
In May 2019, Emanuel was named founding executive chair of the National BAM Advisory Council of the Becoming A Man youth program.
May 2019: Emanuel Left Office as Mayor of Chicago
In May 2019, Rahm Emanuel left office as Mayor of Chicago and was succeeded by Lori Lightfoot.
June 2019: Emanuel joins Centerview Partners
In June 2019, Emanuel joined Centerview Partners as a senior counselor.
July 2019: Emanuel becomes Political Analyst for ABC News
Since July 2019, Emanuel has served as a political analyst for ABC News.
2019: Emanuel Left Office as Mayor of Chicago
In 2019, Rahm Emanuel's tenure as Mayor of Chicago came to an end.
2019: Emanuel Originally Intended to Run for Reelection
Rahm Emanuel originally announced he would be running for reelection in 2019, but later decided not to.
April 2021: Biden Chooses Emanuel as Ambassador to Japan
In April 2021, it was reported that Biden had chosen him as ambassador to Japan.
August 2021: Emanuel Formally Nominated as Ambassador
In August 2021, Emanuel was formally nominated to serve as ambassador to Japan.
August 2021: Biden Nominated Emanuel as Ambassador to Japan
In August 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Rahm Emanuel to be the United States Ambassador to Japan.
October 20, 2021: Senate Committee Holds Hearings on Emanuel's Nomination
On October 20, 2021, hearings were held in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Emanuel's nomination as ambassador to Japan.
November 3, 2021: Emanuel's Nomination Reported Favorably to the Senate Floor
On November 3, 2021, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee favorably reported Emanuel's nomination as ambassador to Japan to the Senate floor.
December 18, 2021: United States Senate Confirms Emanuel's Nomination
On December 18, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed Emanuel's nomination as ambassador to Japan in a 48-21 vote.
2021: Lollapalooza contract extension
In 2021, Lollapalooza's contract to host in Grant Park expires.
March 25, 2022: Emanuel Presents Credentials to Japanese Emperor Naruhito
On March 25, 2022, Emanuel presented his credentials to Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
2022: Emanuel Became U.S. Ambassador to Japan
In 2022, Rahm Emanuel became the United States ambassador to Japan.
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: Shift in Stance on Transgender Rights
Since the 2024 presidential election, Emanuel has expressed opposition to transgender rights.
January 2025: Emanuel Departs Job in Japan
In January 2025, Emanuel departed from his job in Japan upon the conclusion of the Biden administration.
March 12, 2025: Emanuel Considers 2028 Presidential Run
On March 12, 2025, it was reported that Rahm Emanuel was interested in running for president in the 2028 U.S. presidential election.
2025: Emanuel expresses his support for Israel but would publicly disagree with their policies if he was elected president
In 2025, Emanuel said he "support[s] the state of Israel", but that if he were elected president he would be willing to publicly disagree with Israeli policies.
2025: Emanuel Ends Tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Japan
In 2025, Rahm Emanuel ended his service as the United States Ambassador to Japan.
2025: Emanuel Supports Incarceration of Transgender Women in Men's Prisons
In a 2025 interview, Emanuel stated that he supports the incarceration of transgender women in men's prisons and that he does not believe a man could become a woman.
2028: Possible Presidential Run
In 2028, Rahm Emanuel may run for president
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