A new book claims President Barack Obama was close to firing Rahm Emanuel before his chief of staff left to run for Chicago mayor. But the president’s top strategist says the book is littered with fiction.
Ron Suskind’s Confidence Men quotes an unnamed source saying Emanuel “would have been fired” if he hadn’t moved back to Chicago when former Mayor Richard Daley announced his retirement.
Obama strategist David Axelrod - now back in Chicago - was in the White House at the time, and says Emanuel was “never” close to losing his job.
Axelrod says Emanuel provided strong leadership in the White House, and the president appreciated that.
“Rahm was a enormously positive force in the White House and much of what we accomplished, particularly in those early days when we were teetering on the brink of a depression, was absolutely pivotal. And the president recognized that,” Axelrod said.
“Rahm provided strong leadership in the White House and that was well appreciated by the president,” Axelrod said.
A spokeswoman for Emanuel declined to comment.
Suskind also describes the White House headed by Emanuel as a “boys’ club,” in which women had little power. Axelrod dismisses the suggestion.
“I’m not going to comment on docu-dramas,” he said. “The fact is that there were so many just flat-out errors of fact in that book that reflect the overall, which is that it’s just not an accurate picture.”
That’s a characterization also made by a White House spokesman. The author is standing by his book.
Axelrod made his comments to reporters on Thursday in Chicago, after headlining a fundraiser for congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth. Duckworth is running for the Democratic nomination in Illinois’ 8th congressional district, against Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Axelrod said his endorsement for Duckworth does not mean the president will follow suit.
“No, I don’t expect [he will get involved],” Axelrod said. “He doesn’t involve himself in primary campaigns, and these are two friends of his, but obviously - you know, he appointed Tammy to a leadership position in his administration, so he has a high regard for her.”
Duckworth, who won the Purple Heart for her service in Iraq, was an assistant secretary in the federal Department of Veterans Affairs under Mr. Obama.
The president also has ties to Krishnamoorthi, who advised Mr. Obama during both his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, and the 2008 presidential election.
