Ron Klain

Ronald Alan Klain (born August 8, 1961) is an American attorney, political consultant, and former lobbyist who served as White House Chief of Staff under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2023.

A Democrat, Klain previously served as chief of staff to two vice presidents: Al Gore from 1995 to 1999 and Biden from 2009 to 2011. He was also appointed by President Barack Obama as White House Ebola Response Coordinator after the appearance of Ebola virus cases in the United States, serving from 2014 to 2015.

Throughout 2020 he worked as a senior advisor to Biden's presidential campaign. Following his victory, Biden announced on November 12 that Klain would serve as White House chief of staff. During his tenure as chief of staff, Klain was often characterized as a key ally of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party within the White House.

In January 2023, Klain announced his plans to step down as chief of staff in the weeks after Biden's State of the Union address in February. He was succeeded in the role by Jeff Zients on February 7.

Early life and education

Ronald Alan Klain was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Stanley Klain, a building contractor, and Sarann Warner (née Horwitz), a travel agent. Klain is Jewish. He graduated from North Central High School in 1979 and was on the school's Brain Game team which finished as season runner-up. A first-generation college graduate, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Georgetown University in 1983. In 1987, he received his Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.