Spring Break
Obama chooses new chief of staff
Margaret Talev and Steven Thomma McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)
Issue date: 11/7/08 Section: News
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) has accepted President-elect Barack Obama's offer to be the White House chief of staff.
A knowledgeable Democratic insider confirmed Emanuel's acceptance Nov. 6 but insisted on anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak and neither the Obama camp nor Emanuel was ready to announce the appointment.
The selection of the hard-nosed, highly-partisan Emanuel is Obama's first in filling his new administration. Obama is expected to name some of his picks for top Cabinet posts, perhaps including his secretary of the treasury, within the next several days.
In choosing Emanuel, a veteran of the Clinton White House, Obama signaled that he wants a tough taskmaster to run his White House as well as a steely insider who's able to help push the Obama agenda through Congress, even if it faces opposition from his fellow Democrats, who control both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Emanuel, 48, has represented a North Chicago district in the House since 2003. He quickly rose to influence, and he chaired the Democrats' campaign to retake the House majority in 2006, which succeeded. He's the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House as the chair of the Democratic caucus.
A knowledgeable Democratic insider confirmed Emanuel's acceptance Nov. 6 but insisted on anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak and neither the Obama camp nor Emanuel was ready to announce the appointment.
The selection of the hard-nosed, highly-partisan Emanuel is Obama's first in filling his new administration. Obama is expected to name some of his picks for top Cabinet posts, perhaps including his secretary of the treasury, within the next several days.
In choosing Emanuel, a veteran of the Clinton White House, Obama signaled that he wants a tough taskmaster to run his White House as well as a steely insider who's able to help push the Obama agenda through Congress, even if it faces opposition from his fellow Democrats, who control both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Emanuel, 48, has represented a North Chicago district in the House since 2003. He quickly rose to influence, and he chaired the Democrats' campaign to retake the House majority in 2006, which succeeded. He's the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House as the chair of the Democratic caucus.
Be the first to comment on this story