Rahm Emanuel quotes

Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and diplomat, recognized for his influential roles in national politics. Known as a former White House Chief of Staff and Mayor of Chicago, he has helped shape key policies and decisions. He currently serves as the United States Ambassador to Japan. Here are 44 of his quotes:

While Mayor Daley surprised me today with his decision to not run for reelection, I have never been surprised by his leadership, dedication and tireless work on behalf of the city and the people of Chicago.

Rahm Emanuel

We invoke the sacrifices of our fallen heroes in the abstract, but we seldom take time to thank them individually.

Rahm Emanuel

[Obama White House] rescued the economy from the worst recession.

Rahm Emanuel

Rahm Emanuel is son of the devil's spawn. He is an individual who would sell his mother to get a vote. He would strap his children to the front end of a steam locomotive.

Rahm Emanuel

Chief of staff is the only White House job with two titles: chief and staff. The first allows for structure and accountability. The second, well, just remember whose name was on the ballot, check your ego at the door and understand you're there to serve the President and ensure that his-or, someday, her-vision is being executed. When I had the role, I used to joke on Fridays, "Lucky us, just two more workdays until Monday." It's an all-consuming, thankless job-but walking through those gates at the beginning and end of each day, no matter how early or late, brings a tingle to your spine. The day that goes away is the day it's time to go.

Rahm Emanuel

The person who takes the oath of office in the next four months will shape not just the next four years, but the next forty years of our nation. In these next four years, we need proven leadership, proven judgment and proven values. America needs four more years of President Barack Obama.

Rahm Emanuel

President Obama made the right choice, over one million Americans are still working today. The American auto industry is not just surviving. It is thriving. Where Mitt Romney was willing to turn his back on Akron, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio, the president said, 'I've got your back.'

Rahm Emanuel

This is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil and govern from the center.

Rahm Emanuel

Two of Chicago's four city pension funds will be bankrupt within a few years, according to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. You'd think that's a scenario unions – the supposed champions for public-employee retirements – would want to avoid. But not in Chicago. Unions are fighting to block any kind of pension reform, effectively locking in bankruptcy for city-employee pension systems.

Rahm Emanuel

As individuals, we will be judged in our lives by the totality of our actions. Not one thing will stand out. And I think that's how we get judged by our colleagues and that's how we get judged by the good lord.

Rahm Emanuel

I wake up some mornings hating me too.

Rahm Emanuel

I've never been in a place where winning has hurt the ability to do anything.

Rahm Emanuel

I would like to run for the mayor of the city of Chicago. That has always been an aspiration of mine even when I was in the House of Representatives.

Rahm Emanuel

The fact is, Bush's war policy has failed. It's failed! Who better to say so than Jack Murtha?

Rahm Emanuel

I don't want to go negative on Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but he didn't pass an economic deal in the first 100 days. We have passed the largest Recovery Act in the history of the country.

Rahm Emanuel

The American people... want change. They want big ideas, big reform.

Rahm Emanuel

There's no safe Republican district. You can run, but you cannot hide.

Rahm Emanuel

When it comes to federal elections law, Tom DeLay and his special-interest friends live by one set of rules, and everyone else lives by a very different set.

Rahm Emanuel

In the White House, you can be on the pitcher's mound or you can be in the catcher's position. Put points on the board. Show people you can govern. Deliver on what you said you were going to deliver on.

Rahm Emanuel

(Mother's Day) is a tough holiday for Rahm Emanuel because he's not used to saying the word "day" after "mother."

Rahm Emanuel

With Rahm, you get someone who is both a great strategic thinker and a great tactician. It's great to have someone who knows the Congress inside and out. There can often be major differences between the executive branch and the congressional branch, even when you're from the same party. It will certainly help in terms of getting things done.

Rahm Emanuel

What is more comforting to the terrorists around the world: the failure to pass the 9/11 legislation because we lacked 'a majority of the majority,' or putting aside partisan politics to enact tough new legislation with America's security foremost in mind?

Rahm Emanuel