While Podesta has never run for public office himself -- instead content to remain "more comfortable in the background" -- he emerged as a driving political organizer for a string of hard-fought campaigns, notably then-Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), McGovern, Dukakis, and Bill Clinton. More recently, he had a hand in electing Pennsylvania Democratic Reps. Joe Sestak, Chris Carney, and Patrick Murphy, and he chaired Gov. Edward Rendell's (Penn.)_ reelection campaign.

Early Politics

In 1968, the then-MIT student signed on as a scheduler for Eugene McCarthy's presidential run. After McCarthy's failed bid, he held a similar position in George McGovern's bid, where he would meet Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1972. Podesta joined Kennedy's campaign in 1980; he he held the director of scheduling position for Walter Mondale's presidential campaign in 1984.

Podesta remained an aide to Kennedy after the1984 election, and in 1987 he became a significant player in Kennedy's attempt to derail the Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork.

A year later, Podesta landed a job as the California campaign director for Michael Dukakis, where he found himself working for a stubborn and hard-headed candidate. "He personally reviewed every piece of campaign literature, every ad and, for a while, every hire," Podesta said later.

In 1996, Podesta became the Pennsylvania campaign director for the Clinton/Gore campaign.After Clinton's reelection, Podesta served as an informal adviser to the president, particularly in matters of technology policy. He also played a role in shepherding several nominations through Congress. His younger brother, John, was tapped to be Clinton's chief of staff in 1998.

While Podesta claimed that he never lobbied his brother while John was in the Clinton White House, he admitted that it did make his life easier to have someone on the inside. "I would be disingeneous to say it hurts me," he said.

People for the American Way

In 1981, Podesta became a founding president of People for the American Way, a liberal group started by television producer Norman Lear. He led the group until 1987, when he was hired away by Kennedy.

Podesta Associates

The connections Podesta made as a campaign manager, as well as stints as a Hill adviser, would serve him well when established Podesta Associates with younger brother John in 1988. In his lobbying role, Podesta balanced his ties to both the Democratic and Republican parties while developing burgeoning relationships with large firms and big-name clients.

The firm became PodestaMattoon when Podesta brought in Republican Daniel Mattoon in 2001, but the two parted ways in 2006. After Mattoon's departure, the firm became the Podesta Group, with Podesta taking his place as chairman.

The Podesta Group is one of the most successful lobbying firms in Washington, and represent big-name clients such as Walmart and BP.

BP Oil Spill

After the BP oil spill in 2010, Podesta was hired as part of the oil giant's team to launch a public-relations offensive.

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