Rouse didn't expect to be thrown into a presidential campaign when he became freshman Sen. Barack Obama's chief of staff. A Capitol Hill fixture since the early 1970s, Rouse had been Sen. Tom Daschle's longtime staff chief, and he expected to retire when the South Dakota Democrat lost his seat in 2004. But Obama persuaded him to help get his Senate office up and running, and Rouse later agreed to move to Chicago to work on the presidential campaign. The 63-year-old New Haven, Conn., native graduated from Colby College and earned master's degrees at the London School of Economics and Harvard. Rouse, who is notoriously media-shy, told National Journal that his job in the White House is "a logical extension" of his Hill work, although the stakes are higher. "He's the best backstage player," a veteran Washington insider said. "He's excellent at understanding how things work. If he's on your side, you can't do better than that."
| Is a Lawyer | |
| Has a PhD | |
| Has Worked in Congress |
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| Has State or Local Experience |
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| Has Lobbied | |
| Has Worked at a Think Tank or in Academia | |
| Has Military Experience | |
| Has Worked as a Business Executive | |
| Has Held Elective Office | |
| Undergraduate Alma Mater | Colby College |
| Graduate Alma Mater | Harvard, London School of Economics |
Established: 1789
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500
Phone: 202-456-1414
Website: www.whitehouse.gov
Functions: The Office of the President provides advice and administrative support to the president.
