simplified chinese traditional chinese pinyin born june united_states deputy secretary labor served assistant president cabinet secretary united_states president barack_obama chair asian americans graduated princeton_university classmate obama serving briefly advisor senator presidential campaign began working barack_obama office served legislative director acting chief staff following obama successful campaign presidency appointed executive director obama appointed cabinet secretary new_york_times described highest ranking asian americans obama administration early life born june new_jersey family moved neighborhood maryland graduated son born china lived taiwan 1950s emigrated united_states attend college grandfather minister justice taiwan elected legislative represent said heavily influenced father worked electrical engineer loved literature history read biographies politicians watch evening news attended princeton_university senior news editor ambition political career developed princeton particularly office senator graduated cum writing senior thesis press coverage presidential campaigns graduating princeton attended barack_obama classmates career graduating cum harvard started career law clerk judge circuit began working litigation attorney washington office large chicago based law firm barack_obama wife worked firm chicago office left took job political arena deputy chief counsel representative democratic staff house_of_representatives chief staff large decision hire work later obama administration later said considers future white_house influential tenure conducted high profile investigations including investigations campaign fundraising presidential election collapse nursing home conditions served special adviser communications senator presidential election primary duties coordinating activities families september attack victims supporting campaign barack_obama senate office barack_obama elected senator illinois joined obama office early legislative director developed strong admiration obama said quick mind obama intelligent person met political arena legislative director led person group responsible overseeing drafting legislation advising obama votes policy decisions weighing difficult votes obama staff members assemble argue issue chicago_tribune reporter obama biographer said moderate voices atmosphere smart young advised obama vote favor felt politically support obama ultimately voted said role legislative director fun jobs senate incredibly difficult job know given thing going senate time takes couple years life obama read obama manuscript hope provided editorial suggestions eventually acting chief staff obama senate office obama announced candidacy president february campaign remained continue running obama operations senate said obama time running president day job senate obama administration obama asked begin planning possible presidential transition obama warned tell nascent operation wife quietly rented small office secretly met people worked previous democratic presidential transition efforts planning efforts produced policy options wide range topics compiled names began potential political jobs arranged security managed logistics expanding operations election day obama victory executive director position responsible day day operations transition transition period daily contact bush administration officials managed million budget negotiated ground rules obama transition representatives gather information federal agency operations programs obama selected serve cabinet secretary making highest ranking asian americans administration secretary commerce secretary energy time selection new_york_times reporter wrote knows president elect record better responsibilities included representing obama positions cabinet agencies coordinating common white_house agenda associate editor atlantic said agency heads problem white_house problem agency head person called calls visited china july official delegation obama administration parents born time set foot chinese soil introduced chinese premier said meeting know importance position july member official delegation secretary state january nominated president obama deputy secretary unanimously confirmed united states senate april asian american hold position second asian american history serve deputy secretary cabinet department
Chris Lu