Rahm Emanuel

Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and author who served as the 55th mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019. He is known for his passionate and outspoken political views, which have made him a highly visible presence on the national political landscape.

Born in Chicago on November 29, 1959, Rahm Emanuel is the son of an Israeli pediatrician and a Jerusalem-born inner-city pediatrician. Growing up, he attended New Trier High School. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College in 1981 and receiving his masters from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 1985, Emanuel volunteered for the Dukakis for President campaign.

From 1991 to 1993, Emanuel worked for the Clinton administration as senior advisor. This led to more executive positions, including Counselor to President Clinton and Senior Advisor to the President, speechwriting and policy positions, Director of Office of Political Affairs, and Chief of Staff to Treasury Secretary, Robert E. Rubin.

After leaving the Clinton administration, Emanuel began his career as an investment banker. His strong Wall Street contacts soon saw him become the national finance director for two of Bill Clinton's presidential campaigns and, later, a co-chair of Hillary Clinton's successful 2008 presidential campaign.

In 2002, Emanuel was elected to the House of Representatives and served Illinois’s 5th congressional district for three terms until he was elected mayor of Chicago in 2011. As a Chicago mayor, Emanuel focused on issues of public safety and economic growth. During his tenure as mayor, he closed dozens of public schools, pushed for pension reform and long-term planning for city finances, and worked to attract new businesses to Chicago.

Under Emanuel's leadership, Chicago also became a leader in the "smart city" movement, with advances in public transportation and the creation of a network of 70 gas-free vehicles driving around the city. He also introduced a major public-private partnership to improve the city's infrastructure and education systems.

In addition to his career in politics, Emanuel has authored two books: The Plan: Big Ideas for America (2007) and The Future: A Renewed America (2012). Both books focus on national political issues and Emanuel's detailed ideas on how to solve them. His plan focuses on health care, education reform, immigration, and economic development with a progressive approach to the issues.

By attempting to connect with people of all backgrounds, Emanuel is promoting the use of American values and ideals in the face of a changing and difficult political environment. During his time as mayor of Chicago, Emanuel brought the city together in times of great difficulty by showing genuine and consistent care for every sector of Chicago. His books challenge the notion of inherently fixed political divides and suggest an alternative path for unified progress. In a Rahm Emanuel-led America, there is a chance for a return to bold and visionary leadership. As a leader and author, he has become a symbol of hope for people all over the country, who believe in finding common ground through consistent dialogue and genuine human connection.