Obama announces Rahm Emanuel's exit

US president praises his outgoing chief of staff as 'extraordinarily well-qualified' for his new challenge – run for mayor of Chicago

Reuters | Published: 10.01.10, 18:06

US President Barack Obama has formally announced the departure of his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, praising him as "extraordinarily well-qualified" for his new challenge – a run for mayor of Chicago.

Emanuel's replacement, at least for the interim, is Obama senior adviser Pete Rouse, who also stood at Obama's side for the high-profile send-off Friday at the White House.

Obama used the expansive White House East Room for the ceremony, essentially giving Emanuel huge media attention as he leaves to seek to become mayor of the Midwestern city they both call home.

"He just brings an unmatched level of energy and enthusiasm and commitment to every single thing that he does," Obama said of Emanuel.

'Bittersweet moment' (Photo: AFP)

The departure of one of Obama's key advisers will be an unquestioned loss for the president. He relied on Emanuel's intensity, discipline and congressional relationships to keep the White House focused and aggressive.

Obama called it a "bittersweet moment," adding that "we could not have accomplished what we accomplished without Rahm's leadership."

Rouse, 64, is one of Obama's longest-serving aides, working for him since Obama was a US senator from Illinois, and was previously chief of staff to Democrat Tom Daschle when he was a senator. Rouse is a relatively quiet operator compared to Emanuel, who is famous for his colorful language.

"Obviously these two men have slightly different styles," Obama joked. "Pete has never seen a microphone or a TV camera that he likes."

Emanuel, who once sent a dead fish to a pollster who had made him angry, was given the inevitable goodbye gift at the White House senior staff meeting - a dead Asian carp wrapped in newsprint from the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times.

The prankster who presented it to him was senior economic adviser Austan Goolsbee.

"I know that I pushed you all very hard. But I did it in service to the president and I believe that our whole country is better off for it," Emanuel told them.