Obama's Health Care Reformist

Health Care Reform's High Strategy and Tactics

Working with his brother Rahm -- who once sent a dead fish to a pollster who displeased him -- has given him new insight into why Rahm has been successful in politics.

"He's incredibly perceptive, not just in articulating the strategic question but in identifying the tactical moves that need to be made to realize it," Emanuel said. "That combination, high strategy and tactics is not something everyone has."

Emanuel is also working with his youngest brother, Ari Emanuel, the inspiration for Hollywood superagent Ari Gold's character in the HBO series "Entourage." They are developing a new television show for HBO about medical ethical issues.

"I've worked with both brothers, the Hollywood brother and Rahm," Emanuel said, "and while you're growing up and you love your brothers and know they're both at the top of their field, sometimes you wonder what makes them good. I don't know Hollywood. I didn't know politics at all. But once you see them in action, I really understand what makes them so, so, so successful."

Emanuel: Runner, Food Critic and Pie Baker

While not as well known as his brothers outside of medical and academic circles, Zeke Emanuel, who has degrees from Amherst, Oxford and Harvard Medical School, is every bit as intense and driven.

He said he puts in a minimum 12 hours a day at the White House, carries four cell phones, hasn't owned a television since college, and is at work by 7:45 a.m., in time for a daily senior staff meeting run by budget director Orszag, who Emanuel said is "one of the smartest people I've ever met."

Emanuel also has a black belt in Taekwondo, recently completed his first half marathon in 1:40:06 and runs long distances every weekend in Washington's Rock Creek Park.

"You can sort of forget the world, think about big issues," Emanuel said.

Something few people know about Emanuel: his love of dessert. He writes a regular column for The Atlantic Food blog and often brings in baked treats for his colleagues at the Office of Management and Budget.

"I like to make desserts, cheesecakes, apple pies, Linzer tortes, banana cake, cookies," he said.