The famously profane politician and operative is now U.S. ambassador to Japan, where he’s trying to rewrite the rules of diplomacy. But don’t worry: When it comes to China, he’s every bit as combative as you’d expect.
I'm in the basement of the United States embassy.
Who is that in the basement of a US embassy?
Rahm Emanuel.
I'm the United States ambassador to the nation of Japan.
If you have not been keeping up with Rahm Emanuel's career, you may be surprised to learn that he is serving in a major diplomatic role because he is famously undiplomatic.
He has been in politics for 40 years, as a senior advisor in the Clinton White House, as a congressman from Illinois, as chief of staff in the Obama White House, and as mayor of Chicago.
Along the way, he earned a reputation for being shrewd and pragmatic, but occasionally ruthless and almost comically profane.
He once had to apologize for the name he called some fellow Democrats during a strategy meeting.
Here is Andy Samberg on Saturday Night Live in a parody of that apology.
I should never have called you that.
What I should have called you are babies, stupid babies who can't keep their mouths shut.
You went to the Wall Street Journal with this.
You turn coats.
I'm trying to get done here.
And I know we're not moving as fast as you want on healthcare, but maybe you noticed the Republicans are trying to paint us as soviet crack dealers.
I've got so many legislators in my colon, I need 60 votes just to.
Take a so you and now the United States has installed Emmanuel as top diplomat, not to Estonia or to New.
Zealand, but to Japan, America's number one ally.
Is that the official slogan now?
It was before, but we've kind of now put it in bronze.