Overall, Rouse worked on
Capitol Hill for more than 40 years, since 1971. According to Amy Sullivan of
Washington Monthly Rouse came to be known as "the 101st Senator" thanks to his knowledge and skills.
With Daschle Rouse had worked since 1985 for Daschle, whom he met as a fellow
legislative assistant for Senator
James Abourezk (D-SD). On October 15, 2001, Rouse was the Daschle staff member to call the police about a
letter that contained
anthrax powder. 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.
With Obama in Senate 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. Rouse helped prepare a memo, "The Strategic Plan," for Obama's first year in the Senate. Helping Obama navigate Senate politics, Rouse worked with Obama and Senator
Russ Feingold (D-WI) on strengthening
ethics reform legislation. 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. As the
Obama Presidential Campaign picked up, Rouse was named Chief of Staff of Obama for America. After Obama's victory, Rouse became Co-Chair of the
Obama-Biden Transition Project.
Role as Senior Advisor During the first two years of the
Obama Presidency, 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. 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." In September 2009, the
Washington Post reported that Rouse was heading the
White House's efforts to close the
Guantanamo Bay prison.
White House Chief of Staff in October 2010, shortly after becoming Chief of Staff. 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. Rouse is the first
Asian American Chief of Staff in U.S. history.
Counselor to the President On January 6, 2011, it was announced that
William M. Daley would succeed Rouse as permanent Chief of Staff. Rouse was promoted to the role of
Counselor to the President and remained with the White House through the end of 2013.
Post White House After leaving the White House, Rouse went to work for the law firm
Perkins Coie, where he advises clients on navigating the federal government. ==Personal life==