Filed under 'You scratch my back and I will scratch yours'

How Obama hired the White House Chief of Staff (Rahm Emanuel) and the CIA chief (Leon Panetta)...

Barack Obama called Panetta for advice on who might make a good chief of staff. Panetta recommended Emanuel, telling him that “Rahm knows the Hill, he certainly knows the White House, and he’s got the tough side” necessary for the job. In January, Emanuel recommended Panetta for the C.I.A. post. Emanuel said of Panetta, “Leon has great judgment, a great compass. He’s a great manager, and he’s trusted by both parties.”