Rahm Emanuel

(1959- )

Rahm Emanuel was sworn in on January 7, 2003 as U.S. Representative from Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, which covers the Northwest Side of Chicago and parts of suburban Cook County.

Emanuel was chosen by his fellow Democratic freshmen as Democratic Whip for their class. He also serves as a Vice Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee of the New Democratic Coalition.

He serves on the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on the Budget. On Financial Services, he has been named to two subcommittees: Capital Markets, Government Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises; and Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology.

Emanuel served as a top White House advisor to President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1999, first as Assistant to the President for Political Affairs and then as Senior Advisor to the President for Policy and Strategy. He was a leading strategist in the successful White House efforts to extend health insurance to millions of uninsured children; pass the Brady Act; enact the historic 1994 crime bill, which put 100,000 new police officers on the street; secure passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and other trade measures; reform welfare; raise the minimum wage; and balance the federal budget.

Emanuel began his career with the consumer rights organization Illinois Public Action. He went on to serve in a number of capacities in local and national politics, including Paul Simon’s 1984 election to the U.S. Senate, national campaign director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 1988, and senior advisor and chief fundraiser for Richard M. Daley’s victorious campaign for mayor of Chicago in 1989. He served as Director of Finance in the 1992 Presidential campaign of then-Governor Bill Clinton.

From 1999 to 2002, Emanuel served as managing director of the investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in Chicago.

Emanuel was born November 29, 1959 in Chicago. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1981 and received a Master's Degree in Speech and Communication from Northwestern University in 1985.

Residents of Chicago, Emanuel and his wife Amy have three children.