Chicago's Mayor is a Child of an Immigrant

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel felt his ancerstors' presence when he was elected mayor of the Windy City.

He's the son of an Israeli father and a Chicago-born mother, herself the child of an immigrant.

The former White House Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama, Emanuel is Chicago's first Jewish Mayor. "For me, as Rahm Emanuel, the grandson of Herman Smulivitz, who came to this city in 1917 from the Russian-Romanian border as a 13-year old to leave the pogroms, and son of Benjamin Emanuel, who came here in 1959 from Israel to start a medical practice, there's a personal sense of accomplishment," he was quoted by New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd after his historical victory.

Emanuel told reporters that he was humbled and gratified by his election. His former boss, President O'Bama, said he couldn't be prouder for his friend and fellow-Chicagoan.

There are many children of immigrants serving in elected offices in the United States. Like Emanuel, they know from whence their families came and are commited to giving back to America, a country they don't take for granted.