Rahm Emanuel

Rahm Israel Emanuel (b. 1959) is a Democrat who is Chief of Staff to President Obama. He represented Illinois' 5th Congressional District in the House of Representatives 2003-2008. As chairman of the Democrats' Congressional Campaign Committee, he took credit for a sharp increase in Democratic membership in the House.

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 also worked as a banker in Chicago, and is known for his highly aggressive style.

Representative Emanuel has a Jewish background. 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.