Ep. 605 — Ambassador Rahm Emanuel

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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SPEAKER_3 (0:36)

And now from the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago and CNN Audio, The Axe Files with your host, David Axelrod.

David Axelrod (0:46)

Before we start, I have some news I need to share with you. Today's podcast will be the 605th episode of The Axe Files, and at least for now, the last. Even saying those words out loud is hard for me, because these conversations I've had, and many of you have shared, just about every week these past nine years, have been such a wonderful journey. Yes, we've talked about issues in politics and even broke a little news now and then, but that was never what this podcast was all about. It was about people and their stories, about where they came from, how they grew up, about the life experiences, some joyful, some challenging, and some tragic that shaped their lives. It was moving to hear John McCain describe his love and respect for Mo Udall, a liberal democratic congressman from Arizona, and how he would visit and read news clips from back home to his friend during the final months of Udall's life. It spoke to something we've lost in our politics. Just as Sonia Sotomayor told us about her hardscrabble beginnings in the South Bronx, a lifelong battle with juvenile diabetes, and the heavy responsibility she feels to be a role model for other strivers fighting to make their way against the odds. Cyrus Habib was a brilliant political prodigy, blind from childhood. But he quickly climbed the ladder in Washington state government. Elected lieutenant governor at 36, he seemed destined for even bigger things. Then he abruptly dropped out of politics and joined a Jesuit novitiate because he told us he realized it was becoming more about him than the people he ran to serve. My goal was always that you and I would leave each conversation knowing my guests in deeper and more meaningful ways. I wanted this podcast to be one small antidote to the coarse nature of today's politics and social media culture that so often reduces people to negative caricatures and robs us of our common humanity. It hasn't always worked that way. Occasionally, a guest was so encased in talking points that they just couldn't or wouldn't open up. Sometimes folks were less than I had hoped they would be, but most often, even people with whom I strongly disagree have surprised me in ways I didn't expect. I'm grateful that so many prominent people were willing to share their stories honestly and openly, and many of you have told me that their stories, particularly ones of struggle and perseverance, have inspired and comforted you as well. I step away for now because I need to make more time for the next chapter of my own story, for my great and blessedly growing family, for friends and new adventures, but trust me, I'll miss these conversations and I'll miss you, and I'm sure we'll meet again. But even without The Axe Files, let us continue to be seekers of each other's stories and penetrate the god-awful silos that drive us apart. And now, episode 605 If I had planned properly, it would have been episode 606, the prefix for zip codes in my beloved hometown of Chicago, and that would have been particularly appropriate because my final guest is US. Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor, White House Chief of Staff, Congressman, and more. We've known each other for 40 years. He always has something interesting to say. Here's that conversation. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, my lifelong friend.

Rahm Emanuel (4:09)

Mr. Axelrod.

David Axelrod (4:09)

Good to be with you here on the very last episode of The Axe Files. So very appropriate that, given the...

Rahm Emanuel (4:18)

This is the curtain call?

David Axelrod (4:21)

This is the curtain call, yeah. So appropriate to spend this time with you. And like folks can, everybody knows everything about you. Folks can go back and listen to our previous podcasts. We did one early on. We did one when you were mayor. Maybe the first one was when you were mayor. But in any case, we've done several. We did one on TV. So I'm not going to go over a lot of history. I just want to pick up where we left off because you left the mayoralty and you went and made some money for a while. And then Joe Biden was elected president and you decided to accept this appointment to ambassador to Japan. You did a lot of talk about you wanted to be in the cabinet and so on. That didn't happen.