Valerie Jarrett with daughter Laura on election day, Nov. 4, 2008. Photo by Lynn Sweet
By Lynn Sweet
Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON -- Friday night, President-elect Barack Obama and wife Michelle headed toward Chicago's Gold Coast to attend a birthday party for Valerie Jarrett hosted by another pal, Desiree Rogers. Earlier in the day, she got her gift: In Obama's White House, Jarrett will be a senior adviser and assistant to the president for intergovernment relations and public liaison.
Jarrett, who turned 52 Friday, gets a portfolio that will allow her to advise the Obamas while overseeing the administration's relations with other elected officials, traditional interest groups and the "movement" that Obama nurtured during his presidential campaign and wants to keep alive during his tenure.
In tapping Jarrett -- the official announcement came Saturday -- Obama keeps in the West Wing a close personal friend who played a key role in his presidential campaign and his quick political rise from the Illinois Senate to the presidency in just four years. Currently one of three Obama transition co-chairs, Jarrett will join Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Obama's incoming chief of staff, and David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist expected to become part of the administration, in making 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. a "Chicago White House."
While Jarrett's national profile has skyrocketed because of her association with Obama's presidential campaign, Chicagoans have known her for years because she is one of the best-connected people in the city, a fixture in the city's elite corporate, civic and social life. She is an early-morning regular at the East Bank Club.
Jarrett, once a summer tour guide at the Museum of Science and Industry while a kid, is now a trustee on the museum board. Once a clinic coordinator (a clerk) at the University of Chicago Medical Center -- another summer job -- Jarrett is now the chairwoman of the University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees.
During the campaign, in which she frequently traveled with Obama on his plane, Jarrett continued as president and chief executive officer of the Habitat Co., one of Chicago's largest real estate firms.
Jarrett played a hybrid role in the campaign: She was one of Obama's South Side pals, along with Marty Nesbitt and Eric Whitaker, who cheered him up and kept him loose and lunched with him before a debate; she was also a member of the inner campaign circle, a troubleshooter without portfolio, trusted by Barack and Michelle. She was also the highest ranking female and African American in the Obama campaign, a roaming firefighter dousing political flames around the country.
She enters the White House battle tested as a veteran of eight years in Chicago's City Hall, most under Mayor Daley, rising to planning and development commissioner. Between October 1995 and August 2003, she was chairwoman of the CTA. As a survivor of Chicago's brutal political culture -- Jarrett has had her share of personal clashes -- Obama's "no drama" campaign operation, even with its obvious higher and more significant stakes, may have seemed sedate.
"Valerie cut her teeth on policy and politics at City Hall," said Paula Wolff, a friend and colleague on a variety of boards, who lives down the street from the Obamas' Kenwood home and the house where Jarrett spent much of her youth and where her parents, Barbara and James Bowman, still live.
Jarrett has her own unusual biography. Divorced, her former father-in-law is the late Vernon Jarrett, who was a venerated Chicago Sun-Times columnist, one of the few highly visible African Americans in the Chicago media establishment. Jarrett's daughter, Laura, 23, is a Harvard Law School student.
Jarrett was born in Shirz, Iran and lived there until the ago of 5; her father, a physician, was working with U.S. and Iranian doctors. After a year in London after Iran, the Bowmans settled in Chicago, where on her mother's side, she has a storied pedigree. Jarrett's grandfather, Robert Taylor, was a pioneering Chicago Housing Authority chairman for whom the infamous high-rise projects were later named
In Chicago, Jarrett attended the U. of C. Lab School -- where the Obama daughters go now, transferring to the Northfield-Mount Hermon prep school in Massachusetts for the last two years of high school. From there, Jarrett attended Standford University, earning a law degree from the University of Michigan.
For three years, between 1981 and 1984, she was an associate at Ballard, Shepard and Pole Ltd., moving on to a real estate practice at Sonnenschein, Carlin, Nath and Rosenthal.
But Jarrett "wasn't happy with private practice," Judd Miner recalled Friday, ". . . and she wanted to get involved in the Washington administration." The corporation counsel under the late Mayor Harold Washington, Miner recruited Jarrett to the city's Law Department.
A few years later, back in private practice, Miner would make another recruiting coup: a young Harvard Law School graduate named Barack Obama. And over at City Hall, Jarrett, Daley's deputy chief of staff, would hire another lawyer fleeing corporate life, Michelle Robinson, Obama's then-fiancee.
Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the 
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I have known Valerie Jarrett for more than 20 years. I believe that she will be an outstanding member of the Obama Administration. She brings intelligence, experience and most of all integrity to the White House. America is blessed to have a person of her character to advise the president.
most of us don't get the puff you're doing around this.
well, girfriend, don't give up your day job(s). happy 52!! 1st time on the nat'l set? eager to serve? gosh...there were about 34 earlier years to go nation wide. may you live in interesting times..indeed.
Chicago, for being such a big city, seems like a small town, really, where people really get to know one another and belong. Interesting.
Chicago, "that travelling town", seems to be a real community.
Maybe it is just the U of C crowd.
POST ELECTION PARODY: McCAIN & OBAMA ARE BFF!!
See “Why Can’t We (at least pretend to) Be Friends?” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkS6qZg4mo4
Feel free to post!! Thanks…
BE A GOOD AMERICAN. SHARE THIS VIDEO WITH A POLITICAL ADVERSARY!!
See more at http://parodyandson.blogspot.com
Is it the Sun Times connection that made you give Jarret a free pass?
Good grief.
Did we just fall for a bunch of Daley-ed up buppies?
Fell for the Bush's pillage named a 'bailout' by the departing repugs,
Fell for the 'I'm a anti-war candidate' crap,
Fell for the 'change' slogan.
vicious
Valerie Jarrett will do an excellent job advising Obama in the white house just like she did in the campaign. She looks absolutely gorgeous for 52, and i'm sure even the white years can't take that smile and the shine in her eyes away from her.
Congratulations Ms. Jarrett. I believe your appointment is well deserved. I told some friends long before the election that both you and Rahm Emanuel would play significant roles in Obama's administration. I should have bet them, but I am not a betting man. I've watched and admired your career from afar over the years and I am extremely impressed. I wish you blessings from God as you continue to trailblaze for other African Americans and women (in general). God Bless You, and please, both you and Michelle work to keep our next President well grounded. (Don't be a yes person!)
What a talented, accomplished woman. Probably a tremendous comfort to the Obamas, a person they can trust. I wonder if her lovely daughter, Laura, know Kate Edwards, a Harvard Law School student too--the future generation of strength, humility, courage and intelligence. Wish you the very best in your new job, Ms Jarrett!
Ms. Jarrett's intelligence and wisdom shone through during the long campaign. A well deserved appointment!
Congratulations on your appointment as Sr. Advisor to President-Elect Obama. Obama has a keen intellect in people and he made a fantastic appointment in selecting you, a friend and advisor. It is important to have a trusted person who will be there for you and tell you the truth.
I met your father-in-law, Vernon Jarrett, in Louisville in 1949 while he was the speaker for the Realtists, and saw him several times at the NAACP Conventions.
In 2006, Obama Requested A Total Of $5.5 Million In Earmarks For Chicago's Museum Of Science And Industry; Jarrett Serves On The Museum's Board Of Directors. (Obama For America Web site, answercenter.barackobama.com, Accessed 6/3/08; Chicago Museum Of Science And Industry, Internal Revenue Service Form 990, 2006)
"Indeed, From The Start, Obama's Inner Circle Included Valerie Jarrett And Penny Pritzker, Powerful And Well-Connected Chicago Businesswomen." (Carrie Budoff Brown, "Obama Campaign Adds Women To Top Ranks," Politico, 6/20/08)
In 2006, Obama Requested A Total Of $5.5 Million In Earmarks For Chicago's Museum Of Science And Industry; Jarrett Serves On The Museum's Board Of Directors. (Obama For America Web site, answercenter.barackobama.com, Accessed 6/3/08; Chicago Museum Of Science And Industry, Internal Revenue Service Form 990, 2006)
"Indeed, From The Start, Obama's Inner Circle Included Valerie Jarrett And Penny Pritzker, Powerful And Well-Connected Chicago Businesswomen." (Carrie Budoff Brown, "Obama Campaign Adds Women To Top Ranks," Politico, 6/20/08)
How was Valerie born in Shiraz Iran? Is her father Iranian? What does that mean for US relations with this country? Think beyond Chicago politics and look at the big picture for a minute.
Where's the info regarding her Real Estate Scandal. Or will the good and the bad be published?
Wow - some of you people are cynical. This is just a blog piece, not a hard-hitting news article. There will be more if it is deserved. As for now, this is just an introduction piece for the national audience.
I THINK IF YOU READ HER BIO, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND
THIS GREAT LADY ALOT BETTER!
SHE COMES FROM A HISTORICAL FAMILY AND SHE STANDS
ON HER MERIT!
I WILL ADD THIS HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS THE
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO GRADUATE FROM M.I.T!
ALSO SHE WAS BORN IN IRAN, BECAUSE HER FATHER WHO
WAS A DOCTOR WAS IN THAT COUNTRY DOING VERY
IMPORTANT WORK FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
VALERIE JARRETT IS A TOP OF THE LINE PERSON!
ALSO SHE HAS A LAW DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN!
obama was not vetted, so there should be no surprise that jarrett's background has not been exposed. daley canned her as planning and development commissioner because she failed to grab million$ that were on the table in economic development zone funds. the money was available for years, but chicago ended up losing the money because of jarrett. however, maggie daley lobbied for jarrett, so the mayor tossed her a bone by making her his cta spy, i mean, chairman. at the cta jarrett used others to do her dirty work to ouster president robert belcaster so she wouldn't have to get her own hands dirty. but you really can't assassinate someone's career without getting your hands dirty, can you val?
In response to "Anonymous" question "How was Valerie born in Shiraz Iran? Is her father Iranian? What does that mean for US relations with this country? Think beyond Chicago politics and look at the big picture for a minute."
It is my understanding her father, Dr. James Bowman, a US born African American and retired U of C Medical School professor, was in Iran running a hospital for poor children of Iran as part of a US government program that sent US doctors & ag expets to developing countries to help jump-start their health and farming efforts.
She is not Iranian. Her parents were there as acdemics I think. What is she was? What difference does that make? I was born in Iran but I am a patriotic American. We have to get beyond Xenophobia if we are going to get more credibilty in this world.
I am an Obama supporter, but I was shocked to read about Jarret's real estate scandal at Judicial Watch.
http://www.judicialwatch.org/news/2008/nov/obama-advisor-valerie-jarrett-linked-real-estate-scandals
Now I am willing to hear both sides of that, but why is it being completely omitted from most articles that seem to praise Jarret's record?
Dear Valerie,
I am an iranian-american.I was born in shiraz,Iran in 1949.I was amzed to see how the world is so small and you were born in Shiraz also.I am so happy that you and I share the same belief and voted for Obama with compelete confidence that he will guide this country and the world toward peace and tranquility.I really from the bottom of my heart beleive that he would bring the change that the whole world needs.I am so exited and can't wait to see him in the white house.I know I can never meet him but i would love to meet in you person.
Sinccerely,Farideh Massoudi
SOME OF YOU NEED TO READ ALL THE BLOGS BEFORE YOU
COMMENT, MOST OF YOUR ANSWERS ABOUT VALERIE
JARRETT ARE UP ABOVE!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE HER THAT IS YOUR PROBLEM, SHE
HAS EARNED EVERY POSITION SHE HAS EVER RECEIVED
IN LIFE!
SHE HAS WORKED VERY HARD, SHE IS A ROLE-MODEL,
SOME OF US COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO ABOUT HARD
WORK FROM THIS SPECIAL LADY!
ALL OF THAT HE SAID SHE SAID STUFF IS FOR THE
BIRDS, IF YOU KNEW YOUR BUSINESS AS WELL AS YOU
THINK YOU KNOW HERS, LIFE WOULD BE ALOT BETTER
FOR ALL OF US!
I hope her family's experience in Iran means that she will argue for diplomacy with Iran within the Obama administration, since she has a human experience there and doesn't see Iranians as a whole as a Boogieman in the same way the neo-cons and the majority of the corporate media seemingly do.
How easy it is for people to judge others when they dont know the person. Being linked to someone or something doesnt make you the person doing something wrong. Ms Jarrett hasnt been convected of anything. She has done great things in her life, she has raised a wonderful child, stop hating do something with your lives, get a life frist, help somebody, mentor a kid, help the elderly, there are too many things going wrong in our world that we can help to correct, why not be a part of the solution, instead of part of the negitive problems.
How easy it is for people to judge others when they dont know the person. Being linked to someone or something doesnt make you the person doing something wrong. Ms Jarrett hasnt been convected of anything. She has done great things in her life, she has raised a wonderful child, stop hating do something with your lives, get a life frist, help somebody, mentor a kid, help the elderly, there are too many things going wrong in our world that we can help to correct, why not be a part of the solution, instead of part of the negitive problems.
Dear Madam
I congratulate your strenght courage and integrity and the generation you represent who have come through shining bright against all the obstacles you must have faced we are here cheering for you across the atlantic wishing you the very best stay blessed
PHIL___The U.S. was on the WRONG SIDE OF DEMOCRACY. The Shah of Iran was A BRUTAL DICTATOR we installed there.
That's who the Jarrets were working for.
This is "change"? The Great One annoints more of his Chicago political props? Just what we don't need in WDC--Daley/Chicago style politics and favors being repaid for Obama's own shortcomings.
He's not my president.
"MY TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA"
Like a rainbow, he arrives just in time
to brighten up the sky
after a storm has passed.
Yes! He does!
Change has come! His name is Barack Obama
A blessing sent to us
like a breath of fresh air.
Yes! It is!
Let us embrace him
and make him welcome in our hearts.
The world will be a better place
with him in it. Yes! It will!
Congratulations to President elect Obama,
his lovely family and new puppy too.
They bring joy and happiness to us.
Yes! They do!
May the harvest moon smile upon them
May autumn leaves pave the way
May stardust chase away the clouds
and May God bless them.
Sincerely, Irene Brodsky
(Chayarochel@aol.com)
Teacher of Poetry
Brooklyn College IRPE Program for Adults in Pursuit of Education.
and Author of "Poetry Unplugged"
(Outskirts Press, 2008)
please tell VALERIE that DENNY ENGELMAN needs her current EMAIL address thanks in advance