| Pete Rouse | |
|---|---|
| Counselor to the President | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2011 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Ed Gillespie |
| White House Chief of Staff Acting |
|
| In office October 1, 2010 – January 13, 2011 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Mona Sutphen Jim Messina |
| Preceded by | Rahm Emanuel |
| Succeeded by | William Daley |
| Senior Advisor to the President | |
| In office January 20, 2009 – October 1, 2010 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Barry Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 15, 1946 New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Colby College London School of Economics Harvard University |
Peter Mikami Rouse (born April 15, 1946) is an American political consultant who served as White House Chief of Staff to U.S. President Barack Obama. Rouse has spent years on Capitol Hill, becoming known as the '101st senator' during his tenure as Chief of Staff to Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. When Daschle lost his seat in 2004, Rouse was persuaded to stay in Congress as Chief of Staff to then-freshman Senator Barack Obama. Rouse followed Obama to the White House as a senior advisor in 2008 and became his Chief of Staff there upon the departure of Rahm Emanuel in October 2010.
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Rouse was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He is of partial Japanese American heritage, specifically a sansei (third generation). Rouse's mother, Mary Rouse (née Mikami), grew up as a child only speaking Japanese.[1] Rouse's maternal grandfather emigrated from Tokyo to San Francisco in 1885. He returned to Japan in 1910 to marry his wife, before they then moved back to the U.S., eventually settling in Alaska in 1915.[2] The Mikamis retired to Los Angeles shortly before World War II began. They were later sent to an internment camp in Arizona during the War.[3]
Rouse received a B.A. from Colby College in 1968, an M.A. from the London School of Economics in 1970, and an M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1977.
Overall, Rouse has worked on Capitol Hill for more than 30 years, since 1971. According to Amy Sullivan (Washington Monthly), Rouse came to be known as "the 101st Senator" thanks to his knowledge and skills.[4]
Rouse had worked since 1985 for Daschle, whom he met as a fellow legislative assistant for Senator James Abourezk (D-SD).[5]
On October 15, 2001, Rouse was the Daschle staffperson to call the police about a letter that tested positive for anthrax powder (Boyer 2001). Twenty of Daschle's staff subsequently tested positive for exposure to anthrax spores; it is not known if Rouse was exposed along with his workmates.[6]
Rouse had been chief of staff to South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle, the former majority leader, and was planning to retire after Daschle lost in 2004. However, in 2004, Rouse was contacted by a law school friend of then-Illinois Senator Obama and chose to work for him as his chief of staff.[7][8]
Rouse helped prepare a memo, "The Strategic Plan," for Obama's first year in the Senate.[9] Helping Obama navigate Senate politics, Rouse worked with Obama and Senator Russell Feingold on strengthening ethics reform legislation.[10] Similarly, he suggested that Obama speak with Senators Ted Kennedy and Joe Lieberman in the early stages of exploring his presidential candidacy. Rouse also is credited with persuading Obama to vote against the nomination of John G. Roberts, who was nevertheless confirmed and is now Chief Justice of the United States (Bacon 2007).
As with all congressional staff, Rouse's compensation is public information. He has received salary payments above $140,000 during his years with Senator Obama.[11]
During the first half of Obama's term, Rouse was one of three White House officials with the title Senior Adviser to the President, along with David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett. In an interview, Rouse said that he "basically does the inside, organizational stuff and strategic stuff internally," adding that he had no desire to be the "outside person" but preferred to leave external relations to Axelrod, Jarrett and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Rouse said the Deputy Chiefs of Staff, Jim Messina and Mona Sutphen, "who run the place from day to day," report to him. Asked about his overall portfolio, he said "I fix things." He described himself as one of several problem fixers in a collaborative environment.[12]
The Rolling Stone described Rouse as a low profile, calm and legislatively connected manager, quoting one "top Democratic strategist" as saying that "Rouse's the one who brought 'no drama' to Obama. His enforcement makes it work."[13]
In September 2009, the Washington Post reported that Rouse was heading the White House's efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay prison.[14]
When Rahm Emanuel left the White House in October 2010 to run for Mayor of Chicago, Rouse became the "interim" Chief of Staff at the White House.[15] Rouse is the first Asian American Chief of Staff in U.S. history.
On January 6, 2011 it was announced that William M. Daley would succeeded Rouse as permanent Chief of Staff in late January or early February.[16] Rouse will continue at the White House as the Counselor to the President, which is considered a promotion from his previous role as Senior Adviser.[17]
Rouse is a lifelong bachelor who enjoys raising his Maine Coon cats.[18]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Barry Jackson |
Senior Advisor to the President 2009–2010 Served alongside: David Axelrod, Valerie Jarrett |
Succeeded by David Axelrod |
| Succeeded by Valerie Jarrett |
||
| Preceded by Rahm Emanuel |
White House Chief of Staff Acting 2010–2011 |
Succeeded by William Daley |
| Preceded by Ed Gillespie |
Counselor to the President 2011–present |
Incumbent |