Rahm Emanuel

Rahm Emanuel (b. 1959) is a Democratic Representative from Illinois' 5th Congressional District since 2003. Prior to his election to Congress, he had worked in the Clinton White House from 1993-1998, first serving as Assistant to the President for Political Affairs, and then Senior Adviser to the President for Policy and Strategy. He will be US President-elect Barack Obama's Chief of Staff starting in January, 2009.

Representative Emanuel is Jewish. He and his wife Ann have three children:, Zacharias, Ilana, and Leah. Emanual has a bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College (1981), and a master's degree in speech and communication from Northwestern University (1985). Emanuel's father, Dr. Benjamin M. Emanuel, was born in Jerusalem.