Rahm Emanuel Fast Facts

Here’s a look at US Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Birth date: November 29, 1959

Birth place: Chicago, Illinois

Birth name: Rahm Israel Emanuel

Father: Benjamin Emanuel, a pediatrician

Mother: Martha (Smulevitz) Emanuel, a psychiatric social worker

Marriage: Amy Rule (1994-present)

Children: Leah, Ilana and Zach

Education: Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., Liberal Arts, 1981; Northwestern University, M.A. Speech and Communication, 1985

Religion: Jewish

Emanuel’s father is Israeli, and his mother is American.

Emanuel worked at Arby’s during high school. Part of his finger had to be amputated after a cut from a meat slicer became severely infected.

Took ballet in high school and received a scholarship to study dance at the Joffrey Ballet School, attended Sarah Lawrence instead.

Maintained dual American-Israeli citizenship until the age of 18.

Is sometimes called “Rahmbo” by news outlets such as the Economist and Salon for his tough, no-nonsense approach to politics and fundraising.

1980 – Works as a fundraiser on David Robinson’s congressional campaign for Illinois’ 20th district, in Chicago.

1984 – Works on Paul Simon’s campaign for US Senate.

1988 – Serves as national campaign director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

1989 – Chief fundraiser and senior adviser for Richard M. Daley’s campaign for mayor of Chicago.

1991-1992 – Serves as national finance director for the Bill Clinton/Al Gore presidential campaign.

1993-1998 – Serves as a senior adviser to President Clinton, including roles as deputy director of communications, executive assistant, senior adviser on policy and strategy and senior adviser on political affairs.

1999-2002 – Managing director of investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in Chicago.

February 2000-May 2001 – Member of the Freddie Mac board of directors.

November 5, 2002 – Wins election to the US House of Representatives for Illinois’ 5th District; is re-elected in 2004, 2006, and 2008.

November 5, 2008 – Is named White House chief of staff for President-elect Barack Obama.

December 29, 2008 – Announces he will resign his seat in the House of Representatives.

January 20, 2009-October 1, 2010 – Serves as White House chief of staff.

October 1, 2010 – Resigns as White House chief of staff and moves back to Chicago.

November 13, 2010 – Formally announces that he is running for mayor of Chicago.

January 24, 2011 – An Illinois appellate court panel rules that Emanuel does not meet the residency standard to run for mayor.

January 25, 2011 – The Illinois Supreme Court grants a stay on the appeals court ruling, and orders that any ballots printed include Emanuel’s name while the case is pending.

January 27, 2011 – The Illinois Supreme Court issues a ruling allowing Emanuel’s name on the Chicago mayoral ballot.

February 22, 2011 – With 55% of the vote, Emanuel is elected the 46th and first Jewish mayor of Chicago.

May 16, 2011 – Is sworn in at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

February 5, 2013 – Reports for jury duty but is ultimately dismissed. He says he’ll donate his $17 paycheck back to Cook County.

April 7, 2015 – Is reelected mayor of Chicago.

September 4, 2018 – Emanuel announces that he will not seek reelection to a third term as mayor of Chicago.

May 21, 2019 – The day after he leaves the mayor’s office, Emanuel signs a deal with ABC News to become an on-air contributor, two people familiar with the matter tell CNN. The Atlantic also announces his new role at the magazine as a contributing editor.

June 5, 2019 – Emanuel announces he will be joining the investment bank Centerview Partners, LLC. He will open a Chicago office and act as an adviser to the firm’s clients.

August 20, 2021 – President Joe Biden announces his intention to nominate Emanuel as ambassador to Japan.

December 18, 2021 – Is confirmed as the US ambassador to Japan by a vote of 48-21, with 31 senators not voting, ending a months-long Republican-led blockade on quick consideration of more than three dozen diplomatic nominations.

November 2023 – Emanuel’s vacation home in Union Pier, Michigan is defaced with the word “NAZIS” spray-painted on the fence, according to local officials.