Perhaps no White House chief of staff in modern history has worked the media as aggressively and relentlessly as Emanuel. Drawing on his long-standing relationships with journalists, Emanuel serves up on-the-record quotes, background spin and the sort of capital gossip that lubricates relationships. The former Chicago congressman also seeks their take on events and floats possible administration tactics.
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And Emanuel is brusquely efficient. “It’s a no-nonsense relationship,” Todd says. “He’s always trying to extract as much information as he’s trying to give.”
“He thinks like a journalist,” says Obama senior adviser David Axelrod, who marvels at his colleague making multiple calls and wolfing down lunch at the same time.
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