Rahm Emanuel

CHICAGO - President-elect Barack Obama's White House chief of staff apologized to the Arab-American community yesterday for remarks his father made to an Israeli newspaper. Last week, Benjamin Emanuel talked about his son Rahm Emanuel's new job, and told the Israeli daily Ma'ariv that "obviously he'll influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to be mopping floors at the White House. " That prompted an outcry from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which called on Rahm Emanuel, who is Jewish, to condemn the "unacceptable smear.

First lady Michelle Obama is challenging assertions she's forcefully imposed her will on White House aides, saying she's tired of people portraying her as "some kind of angry black woman. " Mrs. Obama tells CBS News she hasn't read New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor's new book that characterizes her as a behind-the-scenes force in the Executive Mansion, whose strong views often draw her into conflict with President Barack Obama's top advisers. "I never read these books," she told CBS's Gayle King in an interview broadcast Wednesday.

CHICAGO — The former White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, announced yesterday that he is preparing to run for mayor of Chicago, a position it was widely known he has long desired. Emanuel made the announcement in a video posted on his website, ChicagoforRahm.com. He had been careful not to launch his candidacy from Washington and headed to Chicago immediately after President Obama announced his resignation Friday. In the video, Emanuel said he is launching a “Tell It Like It Is’’ listening tour of Chicago.

WASHINGTON — In an abrupt jolt to the White House, President Barack Obama announced today that chief of staff William Daley was quitting and heading home to Chicago, capping a short and rocky tenure that had been expected to last until Election Day in November. Obama budget chief Jack Lew will take over the job. Daley's run as Obama's chief manager and gatekeeper lasted for all of one consequential year — filled with notable moments like the killing of Al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, but also internal grumbles that the top aide had not turned out to be the right fit to coordinate...

WASHINGTON — In an abrupt jolt to the White House, President Barack Obama announced today that chief of staff William Daley was quitting and heading home to Chicago, capping a short and rocky tenure that had been expected to last until Election Day in November. Obama budget chief Jack Lew will take over the job. Daley's run as Obama's chief manager and gatekeeper lasted for all of one consequential year — filled with notable moments like the killing of Al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, but also internal grumbles that the top aide had not turned out to be the right fit to coordinate...

CHICAGO - Rod Blagojevich, the ousted governor of Illinois, asserts in a new book that White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel wanted his help in arranging to leave the Obama administration after two years to reclaim his seat in Congress. Blagojevich writes in “The Governor’’ that Emanuel spoke with him about whether it was possible to appoint a “placeholder’’ to the congressional seat Emanuel was giving up so that he could win back the seat in 2010 and continue his efforts to become speaker some day. “As we have done for many...

CHICAGO - Rahm Emanuel combines political instincts, White House experience, and a Chicago tough-guy attitude - traits that should come in handy as President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff. The selection of the hard-charging No. 4 Democrat in the House marked a shift in tone for Obama, who chose more low-key leadership for his presidential campaign. Emanuel's combative style as political director in the early days of the Clinton administration earned him the nickname "Rahmbo.

WASHINGTON — Reshaping the tone and tenor of the White House, President Obama yesterday replaced the colorful and caustic Rahm Emanuel with the private Pete Rouse as his chief of staff, shifting to a new phase of his presidency with a drastically different aide as trusted gatekeeper. Emanuel’s decision to quit the White House and run for mayor of Chicago had been so well known that even Obama mocked the lack of suspense. But it still felt like the most important transition to date for the Obama operation, which has been fueled for nearly two years by Emanuel’s demands,...

First lady Michelle Obama is challenging assertions she's forcefully imposed her will on White House aides, saying she's tired of people portraying her as "some kind of angry black woman. " Mrs. Obama tells CBS News she hasn't read New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor's new book that characterizes her as a behind-the-scenes force in the Executive Mansion, whose strong views often draw her into conflict with President Barack Obama's top advisers. "I never read these books," she told CBS's Gayle King in an interview broadcast Wednesday.

In a crowded basement hearing room, dozens of people who don’t want former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel to be Chicago’s next mayor moved ahead yesterday with their efforts to keep him off the February ballot. Other candidates dropped out or were kicked out of the race. Chicago election officials began sifting through hundreds of petition challenges to candidates in the citywide election, including more than 30 objections to Emanuel’s candidacy. Opponents contend Emanuel doesn’t meet the residency requirement because he lived for nearly two years in...

In a jolt to the White House, President Barack Obama announced Monday that chief of staff William Daley was quitting and heading home, capping a short and rocky tenure that had been expected to last until Election Day. Obama budget chief Jack Lew, a figure long familiar with Washington's ways, will take over one of the most consuming jobs in America. Daley's run as Obama's chief manager and gatekeeper lasted only a year. It was filled with consequential moments for the White House, like the killing of al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, but also stumbles with Congress and...

CHICAGO — Rahm Emanuel was sworn in yesterday as Chicago’s first new mayor in two decades, a historic power shift for a city where the retiring Richard M. Daley was the only leader a whole generation had known. The former White House chief of staff took the oath of office at Millennium Park downtown, one of the signature accomplishments in Daley’s efforts to transform Chicago from an industrial hub into a gleaming global tourist destination. Emanuel headed later to the fifth-floor City Hall office that was Daley’s lair for 22...

In a crowded basement hearing room, dozens of people who don’t want former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel to be Chicago’s next mayor moved ahead yesterday with their efforts to keep him off the February ballot. Other candidates dropped out or were kicked out of the race. Chicago election officials began sifting through hundreds of petition challenges to candidates in the citywide election, including more than 30 objections to Emanuel’s candidacy. Opponents contend Emanuel doesn’t meet the residency requirement because he lived for nearly two years in...

CHICAGO — The former White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, announced yesterday that he is preparing to run for mayor of Chicago, a position it was widely known he has long desired. Emanuel made the announcement in a video posted on his website, ChicagoforRahm.com. He had been careful not to launch his candidacy from Washington and headed to Chicago immediately after President Obama announced his resignation Friday. In the video, Emanuel said he is launching a “Tell It Like It Is’’ listening tour of Chicago.

WASHINGTON — Reshaping the tone and tenor of the White House, President Obama yesterday replaced the colorful and caustic Rahm Emanuel with the private Pete Rouse as his chief of staff, shifting to a new phase of his presidency with a drastically different aide as trusted gatekeeper. Emanuel’s decision to quit the White House and run for mayor of Chicago had been so well known that even Obama mocked the lack of suspense. But it still felt like the most important transition to date for the Obama operation, which has been fueled for nearly two years by Emanuel’s demands,...

CHICAGO - Rod Blagojevich, the ousted governor of Illinois, asserts in a new book that White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel wanted his help in arranging to leave the Obama administration after two years to reclaim his seat in Congress. Blagojevich writes in “The Governor’’ that Emanuel spoke with him about whether it was possible to appoint a “placeholder’’ to the congressional seat Emanuel was giving up so that he could win back the seat in 2010 and continue his efforts to become speaker some day. “As we have...

CHICAGO — Rahm Emanuel was sworn in yesterday as Chicago’s first new mayor in two decades, a historic power shift for a city where the retiring Richard M. Daley was the only leader a whole generation had known. The former White House chief of staff took the oath of office at Millennium Park downtown, one of the signature accomplishments in Daley’s efforts to transform Chicago from an industrial hub into a gleaming global tourist destination. Emanuel headed later to the fifth-floor City Hall office that was Daley’s lair for 22 years.

In a jolt to the White House, President Barack Obama announced Monday that chief of staff William Daley was quitting and heading home, capping a short and rocky tenure that had been expected to last until Election Day. Obama budget chief Jack Lew, a figure long familiar with Washington's ways, will take over one of the most consuming jobs in America. Daley's run as Obama's chief manager and gatekeeper lasted only a year. It was filled with consequential moments for the White House, like the killing of al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, but also stumbles with...

CHICAGO - President-elect Barack Obama's White House chief of staff apologized to the Arab-American community yesterday for remarks his father made to an Israeli newspaper. Last week, Benjamin Emanuel talked about his son Rahm Emanuel's new job, and told the Israeli daily Ma'ariv that "obviously he'll influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to be mopping floors at the White House. " That prompted an outcry from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which called on Rahm Emanuel, who is Jewish, to condemn the "unacceptable smear.

CHICAGO - Rahm Emanuel combines political instincts, White House experience, and a Chicago tough-guy attitude - traits that should come in handy as President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff. The selection of the hard-charging No. 4 Democrat in the House marked a shift in tone for Obama, who chose more low-key leadership for his presidential campaign. Emanuel's combative style as political director in the early days of the Clinton administration earned him the nickname "Rahmbo.