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Home , Janet Napolitano, John Kerry, Rahm Emanuel, Robert Zoellick, Susan Rice

CIDOB INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOK 2009

KEYS TO FACILITATE THE MONITORING OF THE SPANISH AND THE IN 2008

Biographies of the political leaders of the Obama administration.

Elisabets, 12 - 08001 Barcelona, España - Tel. (+34) 93 302 6495 - Fax. (+34) 93 302 6495 - [email protected] Biographies of the political leaders of the Obama administration

Barack H. Obama Human Services Committee, and succeeded in setting in President of the United States since January 2009 motion legislation concerning social protection. In 2003 he The election of the new president of the United States of publicly declared himself to be against the intentions of then America, , was unquestionably one of the most President George W. Bush to embark on military intervention politically lively episodes of recent decades, and not only with- in . In January of that same year, Barack Obama pre- in the United States, but throughout the rest of the world. In sented his candidacy to the US Senate, and in March 2004 the US, in just four years, Obama has gone from holding an he won the Democratic Party’s primary elections, smashing seat in the Senate to residing in the . As all the poll predictions. That July, he delivered the keynote regards international public opinion, in just a few months, he address at the Democratic National Convention, and four went from being a complete unknown to representing the val- months later (while his fellow democrat lost the ues of change, hope and a break with the eight years of the presidential elections to George W. Bush, who commenced Bush Administration. During the 2008 electoral campaign, his second term of office) Obama won his seat in the Senate his seductive, reformist discourse, which was highly critical with 70% of the vote, and was sworn in as the fifth African- of his predecessor in the White House, made a deep impres- American senator in US history. sion on millions of people and political leaders all around the As a representative of the Democrat minority in the 109th world, to the point that his electoral victory became a social US Congress, Obama worked on matters such as the phenomenon that resounded far beyond Washington. promotion and drafting of projects and legislative amend- Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, , on ments concerning transparency in public management and 4 August 1961; his father was born and grew up in , the administration of federal funds, and to the reduction of while his mother was originally from . After a child- conventional weapons. In January 2007, he tabled the Iraq hood spent in Hawaii, the United States and Indonesia, War De-Escalation Act, a legislative proposal that was never the young Barack returned to Honolulu in 1971, where he debated, aimed at the withdrawal of troops from Iraq in was brought up by his maternal grandparents. In 1981 he March 2008. At the 110th Congress, he sponsored legisla- enrolled at Columbia College, University of Columbia, New tion concerning pressure groups and electoral fraud, global York, where he studied political science and international warming, nuclear and care of military personnel relations, graduating in 1983. Two years later, following returning to the USA from military missions in Iraq and numerous experiences working for various non-profitmaking . As a senator in both terms of office, he was a reformist organisations, Obama moved to where he member of the senatorial committees for foreign relations, worked for the NGO The Developing Communities Project; he the environment and public works, veterans’ affairs, health, also headed a social solidarity project in the working-class education, labour and pensions, and homeland security and neighbourhood of Roseland. After this experience, he went governmental affairs. back to university, to the prestigious in Barack Obama announced his candidacy for the US Massachussets, where he was studied to become a Doctor presidency in February 2007 when he declared his inten- of Jurisprudence in 1991. This paved the way for him to tion to present himself for the Democratic primaries for the become the first African-American president of the pres- November 2008 presidential elections; he was the candidate tigious publication the Harvard Law Review. In 1992, back who was a priori less experienced than the other three par- in Chicago, he organised the Illinois Project Vote, a political ticipants: , candidate for the vice-presidency awareness campaign aimed at the state’s African-American with John Kerry in 2004; , Secretary for community. One year later he began working as a Professor Energy in the last Democrat Administration, and particularly of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago, and as a , senator for since 2001 and ex-First lawyer specialised in civil rights issues. Lady. After a series of hard-fought primaries finally disputed He entered the world of active in November with Hillary Clinton, Obama’s messages of hope (“Yes we can”) 1996, when he obtained a seat in the upper house of the and change (“Change we can believe in”) made a profound Illinois General Assembly, and which he held until 2004. impact on Democratic sympathisers, and he was elected During this period, in March 2000 he competed in the presidential candidate in late 2008. In the book Change We Democratic primaries in Illinois for the US Congress House of Can Believe In: Barack Obama’s Plan to Renew America’s Representatives, but he was soundly beaten in the elections Promise, published in September 2008, Obama offers a plan by . Re-elected in the 2003 Springfield legislative focused on America’s economy and leadership. The pillars of elections, Obama was appointed Chairman of the Health and the young Illinois senator’s policy are: an economy based on

111 112 CIDOB International Yearbook 2009 Country Profile: United States Of America MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CABINET PRESIDENTIAL THE OF MEMBERS office. of term most his of days the 100 first the during history of in presidents popular one him making 60%, over of rating approval an Obama granted Politics, Clear Real or Press Associated Afghanistan. in strategy of the from troops Iraq, withdrawal and of the adoption a new for timeframe a announced has president new The . and Venezuela , as such countries with dialogue and erality multilat greater denuclearization, military negotiated toward 50 oriented over policy foreign a championed with has and leaders, world – groups in or one-to-one either – meetings of government previous W.George Bush. the under out carried torture on secret) now (until documents this official the publish to in was area decision last The CIA). the by practiced (supposedly treatment bad other and torture constitute that techniques interrogation of use the ban to and year a of course the over centre detention Guantanamo close to were decisions first policy, foreign his for As authorised. been has cells stem into research medical and commenced, been has reform and health educational change, climate against fight the on done been also has Work industry. automobile the the of avoid bankruptcy to and system financial the rescue to measures investment activity,economic new encourage to deductions tax public and plan a of introduction the with economy, the concerned months initial the of decisions main the riencing, the post. the McGovern. George Democrat the over victory resounding a won Nixon which in election an in Boggs, Caleb popular J. the senator beat Republican he when 1972, in came post the to tion elec unexpected His Senate. US the in for seat a career, political a long of 29 he began age the obtaining after at and 1972, and 1970 between Council County Castle New on served Bar. He Delaware the to admitted later, was year one and, 1968 in graduating Syracuse, of University the at to Law of Faculty the at moved enrolled later He 1965. in Delaware of family his 1953 In Claymont, Delaware, where he graduated from the University 1942. November 20 on States United the of President Vice Joseph 44 the as in sworn was he January 20 On vote. the of 45.9% obtained who McCain, John candidates Republican the vote) popular the of 52.8% (with beating after States United the of administration. public in transparency and ethics new a and reform energy reform, carehealth model, educational new a investment, and saving h lts oiin ol, are ot y h agency the by out carried polls, opinion latest The had has Obama House, White the in months first his In In view of the deep recession that the United States is expe Joseph Robinette Biden was born in Scranton, , presidency the won Obama H. Barack 2008, November In th US President, and the first African-American to achieve to African-American first the and President, US . Biden R. - - - United States, replacing in the post. post. the in Cheney Dick replacing States, United January 2009, was sworn in as vice-president of the In suits. strongest his are relations his foreign US and of knowledge Party Democratic the for senator a as experience vice-presidency,thefor candidate longtogetherBarackObama.His with as declared was he year that of August In didacy. can the achieving of had he chance small the of view in 2008 for the presidency of the United States, withdrawing in January out. carried never was plan The troops. its of most withdraw to USA the allow would which and Bosnia, of experience the by inspired system federal a championed that Iraq for plan a proposed Relations, Foreign on Council Senator 2006 the of In president the Gelb, Leslie Iraq. with collaboration in Biden, against force use to the government October authorising resolution in the of favour period, in voted this he 2002, During onwards. 2007 from January again once and 2003, and 2001 between Relations WomenAct. Against Violence the authored he 1994 in and Law, Crime Biden the as known also Act, Enforcement Law and Control Crime Violent the of promotion the in role cipal between 1978 and 1995, a period in which he played a prin reasons. health for and speech a in plagiarism of accused the of presidency the Wilmington,inUSA Delaware, thoughwithdrewhe afterbeing for candidacy his presented even he 1987 June in while 2002, and 1996 1990, 1984, 1978, in health system reform. She was appointed president of the the of president task force for the system’s appointed reform, and she worked was for causes She reform. system health national of champion a as acted and Lady First the became families. large and children of defence the for organisations and associations of number a in ticipated par and Committee, Standards Educational Arkansas the of president became Hillary 1978, in elections wongovernor state Bill after years, 12 for Arkansas of Lady First as tion posi her In years. two for over presided later she which and Congress, of organisation private bipartisan a Corporation, Services Legal the by of directors of board appointed the to Carter Jimmy was lawyer young the 1977 in liberties, civil and rights constitutional with linked causes championing and 1992. in House White the to them lead would that careers political the long began both they at law criminal of that Law. of Arkansas in School was It Arkansas of University professor as position a obtained Hillary where and birth, Clinton’s of state the Arkansas, to moved couple young the university, finished had they Once President. US future the Clinton, Bill with relationship close a established also she where and 1973, in Jurisprudence in Doctorate a obtained was she where School YaleLaw from and 1969 in WellesleyCollege from graduating After 1947. October 26 on Chicago in born was Clinton Rodham Hillary State of Secretary Hillary Biden went on to be re-elected on five consecutive occasions, On 7 January 2007, Biden officially announced his candidacy candidacy his announced officially Biden 2007, January 7 On Foreign on Committee Senate the of president also was He Joe Biden was president of the Senate Committee Judiciary When reached the White House in 1992, Hillary Hillary 1992, in House White the reached Clinton Bill When service social of areas different in experience wide After Rodham Clinton - - - - linked with childhood and families. A strong feminist and cham- he left the Executive Office of the President of the United pion of , she worked together with States and returned to the CIA, as director of the Strategic to create the governmental initiative Vital Evaluation Center, Office of Strategic Research. In 1982 he Voices, which has now become an NGO network for promoting became Deputy Director for Intelligence, and one year later he women’s empowerment throughout the world. Another aspect was appointed President of the National Intelligence Council of her time as was her firmness and support for her (NIC). His career in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) led husband during the harassment to which he was subjected dur- him to become its Director General on two occasions: for a ing his impeachment for perjury in the Lewinsky case. brief period in 1987, appointed by Reagan, and from 1991 In the year 2000, after Bill Clinton had completed his two to 1993, under the government of George Bush. Between terms of office in the White House, Hillary became the first these two periods, he directly served President Bush Sr. First Lady to be elected to the US Senate, and the first as Deputy Assistant for (1989-1991). In woman to be elected in New York State. During her time 1993, with the arrival of Bill Clinton in the presidency, Gates in the Senate, she served on the Committee on Armed brought an end to his commitment with the CIA and returned Services, the Committee on Health, Education, Labour and to his activity as an academic (President of the University of Pensions, the Committee on Environment and Public Works Texas in 2002) and as a private business adviser. and the Budget Committee. She was also a member of the During the second term of office of George W. Bush, Gates Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. In 2006 formed part of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan Congress she was re-elected to the Senate, and in 2007 she began commission, and after the Democrats won a majority in both her campaign to become the Democratic candidate for the houses of Congress in the November 2006 elections, the White House. Her long, gruelling political battle with Barack resignation of led to Gates’ appointment Obama in the first half of 2008 will be remembered as one as the head of US defence policy. At that time, Gates repre- of the finest examples of political debate in US recent history. sented the most moderate wing in the Bush Administration. Finally, in August 2008 – and after Hillary had denied the The excellent understanding between President Obama and rumours over her possible entry onto Obama’s ticket as his on issues such as returning to a bipartisan No. 2 – the Democratic primaries chose the senator from consensus on foreign policy and US security, developing a Illinois as their candidate for the White House. Hillary Clinton new strategy for Afghanistan and and on rejecting was sworn in as head of US foreign policy in January 2009, the use of force to put an end to Iran’s nuclear threat have as the 67th Secretary of State, replacing . all been key elements in his continuity in the post of Defence Some of the foreign policy priorities the new Secretary of Secretary. State announced are: achieving lasting peace in the Middle As the head of the Pentagon, Gates will have to deal with East (unquestionably through the creation of a Palestinian some of the policies that have gained the greatest attention state), bringing an end to Al Qaeda’s terrorism, the progres- in world public opinion, such as the withdrawal of troops Biographies of The Political Leaders Biographies of The the of Obama Administration sive withdrawal of troops from Iraq, intensifying cooperation from Iraq, the closing of the prison at Guantanamo, the fight with Pakistan and Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism against Al Qaeda and insurgency in Afghanistan and and the Taliban, preventing nuclear proliferation in Iran and Pakistan. , strengthening cooperation with the Russian Federation, China and , and bringing the fight against Timothy F. Geithner , and hunger to the foreground. Secretary of the Treasury In November 2008, President elect Barack Obama appointed Robert M. Gates Timothy Franz Geithner as the 75th Treasury Secretary of the Secretary of Defense United States, replacing in the post. Linked with the Republican Party, but without any political Timothy Franz Geithner was born in , New York on affiliation, Robert Gates is the only member of the Bush 18 August 1961. He went to secondary school in Thailand, Administration to have been included in Barack Obama’s new and during his childhood and teenage years, his family’s team since the beginning of his mandate in January 2009. constant changes of home took him to India, China, Japan After a long career in US intelligence and security systems, and East Africa. He graduated from Dartmouth College Robert Gates was appointed Defence Secretary in December in in 1983, where he studied Governance 2006. For 27 years, Gates has served a total of six presi- and Asian Studies. Two years later, he obtained a Masters dents, and with nine years’ experience on the White House in International Economics and East Asian Studies at the National Security Council, he has served four presidents. Johns Hopkins University. In 1988 he began work in the Born in Kansas on 25 September 1943, Robert Michael International Affairs Division of the US Treasury Department, Gates graduated in European History from the College of where he held the posts of Deputy Assistant Secretary for William and Mary, Virginia, and continued his studies at the Monetary and Financial Policy (1995-1996), Senior Deputy University of , where he obtained a Masters in History Assistant Secretary for International Affairs (1996-1997) in 1966. In that same year he began his career in the CIA. In and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs (1997- 1974 he was awarded a Doctorate on the History of Russia 1998). From 1999 to 2001, he was Under Secretary of the and the USSR from the University of Georgetown, after which Treasury for International Affairs, working under the Treasury he joined the White House National Security Council. In 1979 Secretaries Robert Rubin and .

113 114 CIDOB International Yearbook 2009 Country Profile: United States Of America replaced in the post. the in Chertoff Michael replaced she attacks; 11 September the following created was that to department Security,a woman Homeland of Secretary appointed first be the became Napolitano 2009, January in later, months two and Project, Transition Obama-Biden the of board advisory the joined Napolitano 2008 November In Security Homeland of Secretary Janet Department. Holder became the first African-American to head the Justice Attorney General of the United States, 2009and in February legal a as campaign adviser. presidential Obama’s joined Holder lawyer.a as was ratified by the Senate. Later on he worked until basis temporary a on General Attorney of post the held African- first the in Justice. US in post high a such hold making to American Senate, the by unanimously General Attorney working under Janet Reno, a post in which he was confirmed Deputy US as him appointed again once Attorney for the District of Columbia. Four years later, Clinton US as him appointed Clinton Bill President 1993 In 1988. in Columbia, of District the of Court Superior the at Reagan judge a as Ronald President by appointed was Integrity, he Public which of after section the in lawyer a as Department doctorate. his awarded was he later years three and Law, in Colombia of 21 January 1951. In 1973 he graduated from the University York,New Bronx, Jr.the on Holder in Himpton born Eric was General Attorney Jr. Holder, H. Eric (2001-2003). Department Review and Development Policy the of Director was he where IMF,the to moved he which after Economics, International of Department the in researcher senior a as Relations Foreign n Stlmn Sses t h Bn fr International Thirty.of Group the of and Relations for Foreign on Bank Council the of the member a G-10, of Group the of at Settlements Systems Settlement and Thailand. and Korea South Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, as such countries in 1990s the in international crises that took place to manage many different helped he official, Treasury bankruptcy.As from (AIG) Group International American the save to agreement an reach to istration of the sale of Bear Stearns, and he also collaborated the group responsible for formulating national monetary policy. monetary national formulating for responsible group the Committee, Market Open Federal the of member permanent and Vice-Chairman of that with together 2009, January until held he that post York,a New of Bank Reserve Federal the of In In 2002 Geithner left the Treasury to work on the Council on n 8 oebr 08 e a apitd s h future the as appointed was he 2008 November 18 On 2008 in penalty, death the to opposition his for Known Holder 2001, in Bush W. George of victory the Following Justice the for worked Holder 1988, to 1976 From 9 the as appointed was he 2003, November In Timothy is President of the Committee on Payment In March 2008 Geithner was directly involved in the admin the in involved directly was Geithner 2008 March In A. Napolitano th President - opie o a ru o egt oe pltcas ih a with politicians women race. presidential 2008 eight the in participating of chance of group a of comprised ‘08”, in “8 project the to House White the by appointed was Napolitano Janet 2006, February In Service. Public for Prize Wilson Woodrow the awarded was she when acknowledged levels. local and state federal, on security domestic coordination to relating the tasks in of pioneer a been has she and terrorism against centre state first the opened Napolitano strategies. issues, and set up one of the first country’s domestic security immigration-related on authority public a became she where Council. Security Homeland the and Program Forces Security Public the of creation the for president in 2006. In this post her work was vitally important became she which of Association, Governors National the of vice-president became also she year same the in and USA, zine maga influential the 2005, November In Edwards. John for opted finally who Kerry, John of candidacy the of presidency vice- the for candidate possible a as mooted being was that ones the of one was name her when time a at Convention, 45%. took who Hull, Dee Jane Republican the beatingvote, the of 46% withArizona Governorof aselected was shewhen2002, untillaw.post thethis continued Shein of application the of improvement general the consumer and protection of issues on focused mandate her and General, Attorney appointed was she 1998 In people. 168 of deaths the causedwhich 1995, in CityOklahoma in bombing the into investigation the in participated and issues, terrorism homeland with dealt she post, this In Arizona. of District the for Attorney States United Napolitano appointed Clinton Bill Presidentwhen 1993, in begangovernment public in career her 1983, in Arizona to lawyer.moving Aftera aspractising began she Law,which of after School Virginia of University the from jurisprudence in doctorate her obtained later years four Napolitano graduated from in 1979, and Obama in 2008. in Obama Barack House: and 2004 White in Kerry John the 1988, in to Dukakis Michael candidates three for adviser policy Oxford. College, New from relations in international doctorate her awarded was in 1990 and 1986, in University Stanford from history in graduated in conflict African the Darfur. in action direct greater of favour in spoken also has and Iraq in war the against out spoken has Nations United in USA the of voice dimen new the that new given sion, a acquired now have declarations past Rice’s to Obama President represent and strengthen US by presence in the . chosen was Rice Elizabeth Susan Nations United the to Ambassador States United Susan on n e Yr o 2 Nvme 15, ae Ann Janet 1957, on York New in Born In 2006, her long career in public administration was was administration public in career long her 2006, In Arizona,of Governor as re-elected was she year same That Napolitano was one of the speakers at the 2004 Democratic During her long professional career, Rice has been foreign foreign been has career, Rice professional long her During Rice 1964, November 17 on D.C. Washington in Born ae hr s n o fv bs gvros n the in governors best five of one as her named Time Rice - - In the 1990s, Rice worked for eight years in Bill Clinton’s was sworn in as Chief of Staff of the White Administration, beginning at the National Security Council from House on 20 January 2009. Though this post does not have 1993 to 1997, as Director for International Organisations a ministerial level, it does have the status of cabinet-rank. and Peacekeeping between 1993 and 1995, and as Special Emanuel is an influential member of the group of congress- Assistant to the president and Director for African Affairs men the New Democratic Coalition, and is a personal friend between 1995 and 1997. In Bill Clinton’s second term of of President Obama and the advisor David Axelrod. office, he appointed her Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, a post she held from 1987 to 2001. James L. Jones Following her experience in the Clinton Administration, Rice National Security Advisor began work at the as a senior fellow Born in Kansas on 19 , James Logan in the Foreign Policy and Global Economy and Development Jones spent his youth and education in France, where he Programme. Though her post does not have a ministerial studied at the American School of Paris. On returning to the level, it does have the status of cabinet-rank. United States, he graduated in 1966 from the School of Foreign Service. In 1967 he was made Second in the Marine EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Corps, and after completing his military training in Virginia, was sent to the front in , where he was promoted Rahm I. Emanuel to First Lieutenant one year later. After returning to the White House Chief of Staff United States and obtaining the rank of Captain, he was Rahm Emanuel was born in Chicago on 29 November posted to Okinawa, Japan. Back again in the US, he settled in 1959. In 1981 he graduated from , Washington D.C., where he worked as liaison officer between and four years later obtained a Masters in Language and the Marine Corps and (1979-1984), Communication from . During his stu- during which time his superior was John McCain. In 1987, dent years, his early interest in politics led him to join David after attending the National War College, he began to work Robinson’s campaign to become congressman for Chicago. as an aide to the commandant of the Marine Corps. One In 1984, Emanuel worked on ’s elector- year later he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. After al campaign for the US Senate. In 1988 he was the the 1991 , he served on the border between Iraq National Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign and , in an operation to provide emergency to the Committee, and was a fund-raising adviser during Richard M. Kurdish population. In 1992 he was promoted to Brigadier Delay’s electoral campaign which led Delay to win the post General, and was made Deputy Director of the US European of one year later. In 1991, he came into Command in Germany, from where he participated in humani- contact with Bill Clinton during the electoral pre-campaign for tarian aid operations in Bosnia and Macedonia. In 1996 he Biographies of The Political Leaders Biographies of The the of Obama Administration the 1992 presidential elections; by that time, Emanuel was was promoted to Lieutenant General, and one year later he very successfully directing the campaign’s funding committee. was appointed Military Assistant to the Defence Secretary Following Clinton’s victory in the presidential elections, Rahm . Emanuel was appointed Policy Adviser and later on Senior James Jones was commandant of the Marine Corps from Adviser to the President for Policy and Strategy, from 1996 1999 to 2003, to later become Commandant of the US to 1998. In 1998 he left the White House to work on the European Command and Supreme Commander of NATO, team of Wasserstein Perella on Wall Street, one of the main under the US presidency of George W. Bush, a post that donors to the Democrats. Since then he has maintained good he held until 2006. One year later he moved to the reserve relations with Wall Street’s financial elite. In the year 2000, forces, from where he presided over the Independent Clinton appointed him to the Board of Directors of Freddie Commission into the Security Forces in Iraq, a commission Mac, a post he left one year later on commencing his bid to created by US Congress to investigate the capacities of the become a congressman. Iraqi army and police. In his report, presented to Congress in In November 2002, Emanuel was elected Congressman September 2007, Jones highlighted the existence of grave for the 5th District of Illinois, a post he held until gaining his deficiencies in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and the Iraqi current position as Chief of Staff of the White House. During National Police. this period, in 2006 appointed him Chairman of Following the resignation of Robert Zoellick as Deputy the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the Secretary of State, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice elections that returned power to the Democratic Party in the offered Jones the post of number two the State Department, US Congress. After this victory he was elected Chairman of but Jones turned down the offer. In November 2007, the Democratic Caucus. His active participation in the 2008 Condoleezza Rice appointed him Head Special Envoy for presidential elections began in April 2006, when he publicly Security. declared his support for the candidacy of Hillary Clinton, though In December 2008, President elect Obama appointed he changed his mind after discovering that his friend Barack James Jones his National Security Adviser, a post for which Obama was also running for president. In June 2008, Emanuel he was sworn in a few weeks later, taking over from Stephen finally went over to the camp of the Illinois Senator, whom he Hadley. Currently, Jones is also head of the Institute for 21st accompanied during the entire electoral campaign. Century Energy, he is on the Board of Directors of Atlantic

115 116 CIDOB International Yearbook 2009 Country Profile: United States Of America and in 1983 he received the John Bates Clark Medal, award Foundation, Science National the from Award T. Waterman countries. different for strategies aid of design the in role key a played he which in Committee, Loans WorldBank the of member a was he post last this In 1993. until bank the Bank, for Economist World the at Chief and Affairs Economic working for Vice-President was he where began and Harvard left he 1991 In presidency. the Michael for candidate of Democratic Dukakis, campaign the for adviser economic an was he 1988 in and Advisers, Economic of Council Reagan’s Ronald his with career.political budding teaching alternated has he then Since 28. only of age the at Harvard, at staff teaching the joined 1983 in and He University. Harvard began teaching at the Institute of from Technology, doctorate his awarded was he 1982 in and 1975, in Economics in graduated Summers of member key Barack Obama’s a economic team in the Democratic was campaign. Summers administration, public in experience widespread his With Council. Economic National the direct to chosen has Obama economist the is – history academic long a and Administration Clinton the in experience of years eight had already who – Summers Henry Lawrence 1954, November 30 on Connecticut, Haven, New in Born Council Economic National the of Director LawrenceH. it cabinet-rank. of status the have level, does ministerial a have not does post his Though policy. social and economics on publications numerous of co-author and author the is Orszag Peter during Administration. held Clinton the posts both (1997-1998), Policy Economic President for the to Assistant Special and presi (1995-1996), the dent to Advisers Economic of Council the on Adviser Institution. Brookings the at Studies Economic of Economics in 1997. As an academic, he was Deputy Director 1991, and obtained his doctorate from the London School of care. medical and change mate cli as such areas include to the influence its broadened Office, agency Budget Congressional the of head as mandate his During House. White the of Budget and Management of Office the of Chief new the as him appointed Obama Barack before 2008, December and 2007 January between Office Richard Peter 1968, December Budget Congressional the of Director of post the held Orszag 16 on in Born House White the of Budget and Management of Office the of Director P president’scabinet. the in he seat a have not does though House, White the in office an has and McCain, John with friendship personal a has Jones Republicans, by and Democrats both by Respected Commerce. of Chamber US the to affiliated also is and States United the of Council In 1987 he was the first social scientist to receive the Allen In 1982 and 1983 he of formed the part team to President Senior was Orszag economist, an as career his During in University in from Princeton graduated Economics Orszag eter . Orszag R. Summers - - - Produced by: CIDOB by: Produced profiles team Obama’sgovernment BBC leaders political of Biographies Foundation CIDOB Sources: White the to race House. presidential the for Obama-Biden Project the Transition joined Axelrod David 2008 In seats. 31 won Party the Democratic in which of Representatives House Democratic the of the to elections the for Director Committee, Campaign Congressional National Emanuel, Rahm to adviser political chief as worked he 2006 year. In same that of November in senator become to campaign the in didates key of been had Axelrod in importance Obama’s victory over six Illinois, other Democratic can become of had state Obama the for after senator 2004, In Illinois. of General the Assembly entered president future the before years five Clinton. Hillary Edwards and John candidates Democratic the for worked has also Axelrod 1987. in re-election his for Chicago, of mayor African-American first the Washington, Harold with by-side side- and worked he when was these state of One campaigns. national local, 150 than more in strategist munications com as experience wide a with politics, and communications politics. local and state a as the on years reporter eight worked had he that to Prior Simon. Paul Senator for Director Communications as working elections, of University Pennsylvania. the and Chicago of University the University, Harvard at Media and Politics of Professor as work teaching his and University, Northwestern at Studies Communication of of Professor Adjunct as post his include career points academic his high the of Some the 1977. in from Chicago of graduated University Axelrod 1955, February 22 on York New in Born House. White the to Illinois for senator the led that campaign electoral the of head and adviser political as become one of the people closest to President Barack Obama has Axelrod David strategist, political intelligent and skilled A President the to Advisor Senior David (2001-2006). University Harvard of President as life academic 2001. to returned January then He in Gore Al over victory Bush’s W. George In 1999 Summers replaced Rubin as Treasury until Secretary ters of international policy, tax policy and the financial system. Robert Rubin. In this post, Secretary theSummers was responsible the for mat- after of department the Secretary in 2 Deputy No. the appointed Treasury, was he 1995 in and Treasury, the of Affairs International for Undersecretary as thought. economic to contribution exceptional his for Association Economic American the by ed i rltos ih aak bm dt bc t 1992, to back date Obama Barack with relations His of area the in adviser an been has Axelrod 1988 Since 1984 the in politics of world the entered Axelrod David In April 1993, he began working for the Clinton Administration Axelrod , where he covered national, covered Tribunehe Chicago where , - -