History of Rahm Emanuel in Timeline
Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and diplomat. He served as the United States Ambassador to Japan from 2022 to 2025. Prior to this, he represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives (2003-2009), was White House Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama (2009-2010), and served as Mayor of Chicago for two terms (2011-2019). A member of the Democratic Party, his career spans legislative, executive, and municipal government roles.
1933: Emanuel Auerbach Death
In 1933, Rahm Emanuel's uncle, Emanuel Auerbach, 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 later became a politician, diplomat, investment banker, U.S. Representative, White House Chief of Staff, and Mayor of Chicago.
June 1967: Summer Camp in Israel After Six-Day War
In June 1967, Rahm Emanuel and his brothers attended summer camp in Israel, including the summer following the June 1967 Six-Day War.
1981: Graduation from Sarah Lawrence College
In 1981, Rahm Emanuel graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a bachelor of arts in liberal arts.
1984: Worked for Paul Simon's Election
In 1984, Rahm Emanuel worked for Democrat Paul Simon's election to the U.S. Senate.
1985: 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 served as the national campaign director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
1989: 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: Opposition Research for Neil Hartigan's Campaign
In 1990, Rahm Emanuel conducted opposition research for Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan's gubernatorial campaign.
1991: Assisted Israel Defense Forces During Gulf War
During the 1991 Gulf War, Rahm Emanuel participated in a two-week civilian volunteer holiday where he assisted the Israel Defense Forces by helping to repair truck brakes at one of Israel's northern bases.
1992: Director of Finance Committee for Bill Clinton's Campaign
In 1992, Rahm Emanuel served as director of the finance committee for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.
1992: Incident at Celebratory Dinner
On the night after the 1992 election, Rahm Emanuel, angry at Democrats and Republicans who "betrayed" them in the 1992 election, plunged a steak knife into the table at a celebratory dinner and shouted "Dead! Dead! Dead!" while rattling off names.
1993: Senior Advisor to Clinton at the White House
From 1993 to 1998, Rahm Emanuel served as a senior advisor to Clinton at the White House.
1993: Joins 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: Democratic Party gained control of the chamber
In 2006, Rahm Emanuel as chair of 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: Resigned from position in the administration
After serving as an advisor to Bill Clinton, in 1998 Emanuel resigned from his position in the administration and joined the investment banking firm Wasserstein Perella.
1998: Senior Advisor to Clinton at the White House
From 1993 to 1998, Rahm Emanuel served as a senior advisor to Clinton at the White House.
1998: Joins Wasserstein Perella & Co.
In 1998, Rahm Emanuel began working at the investment bank Wasserstein Perella & Co.
1998: Support for banning 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 Wasserstein Perella's Chicago office.
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 the Board of Directors of Freddie Mac
In 2001, Rahm Emanuel resigned from the board of directors of Freddie Mac before his first bid for Congress.
October 2002: Expressed support for the Iraq War
In October 2002, Rahm Emanuel spoke out in support of the Iraq War.
2002: Pursued U.S. House Seat
In 2002, Rahm Emanuel pursued the U.S. House seat in the 5th district of Illinois, winning the primary and general election.
2002: Ran for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives
In 2002, he ran for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives vacated by Rod Blagojevich, who resigned to become 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: NRA rating
In December 2003, Rahm Emanuel was rated "F" by the NRA, indicating his strong support for gun control.
2003: Emanuel Represents Illinois in U.S. House of Representatives
In 2003, Rahm Emanuel won the first of three terms representing Illinois's 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
April 2006: Emanuel supports Hillary Clinton for President
In April 2006, Emanuel declared his support for Hillary Clinton's potential presidential bid in 2008. He had maintained a close relationship with Clinton since leaving the White House, frequently discussing strategy with her in his role as chairman of the DCCC.
2006: Led Democratic Party's effort to capture the majority in the House of Representatives
In 2006 Emanuel led the Democratic Party's effort to capture the majority in the House of Representatives in the elections, and disagreed with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean over Democratic election strategy.
2006: Publication of "The Plan: Big Ideas for America"
In 2006, Rahm Emanuel co-authored "The Plan: Big Ideas for America" with Bruce Reed, advocating for a three-month compulsory universal service program for Americans aged 18 to 25.
2006: Congressional Primaries
In 2006, Rahm Emanuel, then head of the Democratic congressional campaign committee, supported Tammy Duckworth against Christine Cegelis in the Illinois' 6th district. Cegelis advocated for expedited withdrawal from Iraq, a position Duckworth opposed.
2006: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee 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: Democratic Party gained 30 seats in the House
In 2006, the Democratic Party gained 30 seats in the House in the elections, and Emanuel received praise for his stewardship of the DCCC.
June 2007: Condemnation of Palestinian Violence
In June 2007, Rahm Emanuel condemned an outbreak of Palestinian violence in the Gaza Strip and criticized Arab countries for not applying the same pressure on the Palestinians as they have on Israel.
2007: Friends Claim Emanuel "Mellowed Out"
By 2007, friends of Rahm Emanuel were saying that he had "mellowed out."
November 6, 2008: Emanuel accepts 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 Rahm Emanuel to serve as White House chief of staff.
2008: David Axelrod's Role in Obama's Campaign
In 2008, David Axelrod served as the chief strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Axelrod, a close friend of Emanuel, also signed the ketuba at Emanuel's wedding.
January 2, 2009: Emanuel resigns from Congress
On January 2, 2009, Emanuel officially resigned from his seat in Congress to take on the role of White House Chief of Staff.
March 3, 2009: Special Primary held to fill Emanuel's vacated seat
On March 3, 2009, a special primary election was held to fill the congressional seat vacated by Emanuel.
2009: Pushback on the Affordable Care Act
During the summer of 2009, Rahm Emanuel reportedly "begged" President Obama for an entire week to not pursue the Affordable Care Act, advocating for a scaled-down plan instead.
2009: End of Term as U.S. Representative
In 2009, Rahm Emanuel's service as a U.S. Representative for Illinois's 5th congressional district concluded after three terms.
September 30, 2010: Emanuel announces departure as Chief of Staff
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 replaces Emanuel
On October 2, 2010, Pete Rouse replaced Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff.
October 2010: Resignation 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: Criticism for failure to support progressive candidates
In 2010, Emanuel faced criticism for his failure to support progressive candidates. Progressive activist Howie Klein said that Emanuel's congressional campaign strategy was short-sighted.
2010: Support for Health Care Reform
In 2010, Rahm Emanuel publicly promoted the Obama administration's push for health care reform but privately urged President Obama to narrow his goals, advocating for a smaller, incremental approach.
December 31, 2010: Emanuel raises $10.5 million in additional funds
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 challenges Emanuel's eligibility
On January 24, 2011, the Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court, holding that residency for purposes of a candidate is different from residency for purposes of being a voter, challenging Emanuel's eligibility for office.
February 22, 2011: Emanuel elected Mayor of Chicago
On February 22, 2011, 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, Emanuel was sworn in as the 55th Mayor of Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion, becoming Chicago's first Jewish mayor.
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 with Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair.
2011: Family Living in Ravenswood
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel and his family resided in the Ravenswood neighborhood on Chicago's north side.
2011: Appointment of Third Party Negotiator for Lollapalooza
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel asked the City Council to appoint an independent third party negotiator for Lollapalooza's tax exemption to avoid the negotiation seen as biased.
2011: Triathlon Competition
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel participated in a triathlon and scored 9th out of 80 competitors in his age group.
2011: Won Chicago Mayoral Election
In 2011, Rahm Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election with 55% of the vote.
August 8, 2012: CTU Authorizes Strike
On August 8, 2012, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted 90% to authorize a strike due to unresolved issues in contract negotiations with the city.
September 18, 2012: CTU Delegates Vote to End Strike
On September 18, 2012, delegates from the 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
On October 30, 2012, Rahm Emanuel voiced his support for the demolition of the abandoned Prentice Women's Hospital Building, so that Northwestern University could build a new facility.
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: David Axelrod's Role in Obama's Campaign
In 2012, David Axelrod served as the chief strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Axelrod, a close friend of Emanuel, also signed the ketuba at 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 host in Grant Park through 2021.
September 17, 2013: Chicago School Closures Announced
On September 17, 2013, Rahm Emanuel's appointed Chicago Board of Education announced the closing of 50 Chicago public schools, which included 49 elementary schools and a high school.
August 2014: Chicago Tribune poll reports low approval rating
In August 2014, a Chicago Tribune poll reported 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, leading to significant controversy and criticism of Emanuel's handling of the situation.
April 7, 2015: Emanuel wins run-off election
On April 7, 2015, Emanuel won 56 percent of the vote in the run-off election against Jesús "Chuy" García.
November 24, 2015: Dash-cam video of shooting is released
On November 24, 2015, the dash-cam video of the Laquan McDonald shooting was released after a judge ordered it, leading to further condemnation of Emanuel's handling of the incident.
December 26, 2015: Police Shooting Incident
On December 26, 2015, a police officer killed two people in another shooting, including a woman whom the officer had shot by mistake.
2015: Holiday Trip to Cuba
In 2015, Rahm Emanuel scheduled a holiday trip to the island of Cuba with his family.
2015: Won Chicago Mayoral Election, approval rating plunged
In the 2015 Chicago mayoral election, Rahm Emanuel won in the run-off. In late 2015, Emanuel's approval rating plunged to the low 20s due to a series of scandals.
February 2016: Record Low Approval Ratings
In February 2016, Chicago Tribune polls reported that Rahm Emanuel's approval ratings had dropped to 27%, due to his role as the Mayor of Chicago.
November 2016: Attended JoJo concert
In November 2016, Rahm Emanuel, a longtime fan, attended a JoJo concert in Chicago.
March 2017: Release of Withheld Emails
In March 2017, the Chicago Tribune reported Rahm Emanuel released 2,696 emails he had previously withheld, revealing possible violations of lobbying laws.
October 2017: Emanuel announces run for reelection
In October 2017, Emanuel announced he was running for reelection in 2019, despite low approval ratings and some potentially serious challengers.
October 2017: Announced Run for Third Term as Mayor
In October 2017, Rahm Emanuel announced he planned to run for a third term as mayor of Chicago.
April 2018: Emanuel receives honorary degree
In April 2018, Emanuel received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from NUI Galway, a university in Chicago's sister city of Galway, Ireland, citing achievements in education reform while 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: Emanuel decides not to run for reelection
In September 2018, Emanuel decided not to run for reelection as mayor of Chicago.
March 2019: Emanuel does not make appointment for Alderman
Following the resignation of Willie Cochran in March 2019, Emanuel had the opportunity to make a final aldermanic appointment, appointing an interim alderman to hold the seat until his successor, however, Emanuel did not make such an appointment, 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: 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: Joins Centerview Partners
In June 2019, Rahm Emanuel joined Centerview Partners as a senior counselor.
July 2019: Becomes Political Analyst for ABC News
Since July 2019, Rahm Emanuel has served as a political analyst for ABC News.
April 2021: Chosen as Ambassador to Japan
In April 2021, it was reported that President Biden had chosen Rahm Emanuel as ambassador to Japan.
August 2021: Nominated as U.S. 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 Hearings
On October 20, 2021, hearings were held on Rahm Emanuel's nomination in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
November 3, 2021: Favorable Committee Report
On November 3, 2021, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee favorably reported Rahm Emanuel's nomination 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.
March 25, 2022: Presents Credentials to Japanese Emperor
On March 25, 2022, Rahm Emanuel presented his credentials to Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
August 7, 2024: Skipped 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: Expressed opposition to transgender rights
Since the 2024 presidential election, Emanuel has expressed opposition to transgender rights.
January 2025: Departed job in Japan
In January 2025, Emanuel departed his job in Japan upon the conclusion of the Biden administration.
March 12, 2025: Politico reported interest in running for president in 2028
On March 12, 2025, Politico reported that Emanuel was interested in running for president in the 2028 U.S. presidential election.
2025: Supports the state of Israel
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: Supports the incarceration of transgender women in men's prisons
In 2025, Emanuel stated in an interview 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: Politico reported interest in running for president in 2028
On March 12, 2025, Politico reported that Emanuel was interested in running for president in the 2028 U.S. presidential election.
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