Rahm Emanuel Obama's Chief Of Staff

Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Representative and former top aide to Bill Clinton, has accepted Barack Obama's offer to become his White House Chief of Staff.

"I announce this appointment first because the chief of staff is central to the ability of a president and administration to accomplish an agenda," Obama said. "And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel."

As chief of staff, Emanuel would oversee the White House staff and is usually involved in all the major decisions that the president makes and making sure the administration is running smoothly. The chief of staff is also involved in negotiations with congressional leaders when major legislation is under consideration.

After leaving the Clinton White House, Emanuel, 48, was an investment banker on Wall Street and later was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 from a heavily Democratic Chicago district. He quickly rose to become the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House.

Emanuel grew up in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette. After college he worked for Paul Simon's 1984 Senate campaign and for Richard Daley's 1989 Chicago mayor campaign. He then went on to work for Bill Clinton, where he left in 1999 for a stint in investment banking. He was later elected to the House of Representatives in 2002.

Those who know him describe Emanuel as pragmatic with a tough-guy attitude. Not only does Emanuel come with substantial experience and great past success, but he also has a strong personal relationship with Obama. "He has spent more time in the White House than President-elect Obama has. That matters a lot. It is a special place with its own rhythms," Clinton veteran Paul Begala said.