Rep. Rahm Emanuel has been chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be the chief of staff. Rahm Emanuel is known to be very “tough-minded.” But many wonder exactly who exactly is Rahm Emanuel?

Like Barack Obama, he is a Chicago, Illinois native. His experience ranges from the White House to Capitol Hill. He was formerly top aide to President Clinton.

When he left the Clinton White House, at age 48, he was an investment banker on Wall Street. Later, Emanuel was elected to the House of Representative from a Democratic Chicago District in 2002. Soon after, he became the forth-ranking Democrat in the House.

Rahm Emanuel has accepted the position in the new Obama administration on Thursday, November 6th.

“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.”

Emanuel will also be involved with congressional leaders for negotiating when major legislation is under consideration.

Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, called Emanuel: “An excellent choice.” “Rahm knows the Hill. And he knows the White House. He is a brilliant strategic thinker and someone who knows how to get things done,” Manley said. Manley also cleared away an allegations that Emanuel is a “true partisan,” and could not work with Republicans. “That’s ridiculous. Rahm understands politics is the art of compromise. He’s got a deeply held set of views but he also understands to get things done you have to compromise,” he said.

On the other side, Emanuel has the reputation in Washington to be one of the toughest partisan fighter on Capitol Hill, and many question the President-elect’s pick for the chief of staff position. Many republicans find it “ironic” for someone who claims to bring “change” to Washington.