Ron Klain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Klain
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Official portrait, 2021
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| 30th White House Chief of Staff | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – February 7, 2023 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | Jen O'Malley Dillon Bruce Reed |
| Preceded by | Mark Meadows |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Zients |
| White House Ebola Response Coordinator | |
| In office October 22, 2014 – February 15, 2015 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Chief of Staff to the Vice President | |
| In office January 20, 2009 – January 14, 2011 |
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| Vice President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | David Addington |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Reed |
| In office November 1, 1995 – August 3, 1999 |
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| Vice President | Al Gore |
| Preceded by | Jack Quinn |
| Succeeded by | Charles Burson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ronald Alan Klain
August 8, 1961 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Monica Medina |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Georgetown University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
Ronald Alan Klain (born August 8, 1961) is an American lawyer and political advisor. He served as the White House Chief of Staff for President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2023.
As a member of the Democratic Party, Klain has held important roles for different leaders. He was the chief of staff for two vice presidents: Al Gore (1995–1999) and Joe Biden (2009–2011). He also helped President Barack Obama as the Ebola Response Coordinator from 2014 to 2015. This role was created to help manage the country's response to the Ebola virus.
In 2020, Klain was a top advisor for Joe Biden's presidential campaign. After Biden won, he chose Klain to be his White House chief of staff. This is a very powerful job, helping the president manage the White House and his team. Klain was known for supporting the more progressive ideas within the Democratic Party. He left his role in February 2023 and was replaced by Jeff Zients.
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Ron Klain's Early Life and School
Ronald Alan Klain was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father, Stanley Klain, was a builder, and his mother, Sarann Warner, was a travel agent. Klain is Jewish.
He finished North Central High School in 1979. He was part of the school's Brain Game team, which did very well in competitions. Klain was the first in his family to go to college.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors from Georgetown University in 1983. Later, in 1987, he received his law degree from Harvard Law School. While at Harvard, he worked as an editor for the Harvard Law Review, a respected legal journal.
Ron Klain's Career in Government
Working on Capitol Hill
From 1983 to 1984, Klain worked for U.S. Representative Ed Markey. He helped with new laws and policies. Klain then worked as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Byron White from 1987 to 1988. This means he helped the Justice with legal research and writing.
From 1989 to 1992, he was a chief lawyer for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. He worked on important legal issues and helped with Supreme Court nominations. In 1995, he became a top staff member for Senate Democrats.
Roles in the Clinton Administration
Klain joined the campaign for Bill Clinton in 1992. He helped with both of Clinton's presidential campaigns. In the White House, Klain helped choose judges and worked to get them approved. He played a key role in the approval of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
In 1994, he became chief of staff for Attorney General Janet Reno. Then, in 1995, he became chief of staff for Vice President Al Gore.
The 2000 Election Recount
Klain continued to work as Al Gore's chief of staff when Gore ran for president in 1999. He later left this role to work at a law firm. However, he returned to help Gore during the 2000 vote recount in Florida. Klain was in charge of Gore's team during this very close election. The recount ended when the Supreme Court stopped the counting, and George W. Bush became president.
Working for Obama and Ebola Response
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Klain also advised Wesley Clark during his 2004 presidential campaign. After John Kerry became the Democratic nominee, Klain worked behind the scenes for his campaign. He also worked as a lobbyist for a company called Fannie Mae until 2005.
In 2005, Klain joined Revolution LLC, a company that invests in technology. He became an executive and general counsel there.
Klain helped Barack Obama prepare for his presidential debates in 2008. On November 12, 2008, he was chosen to be chief of staff for Vice President Joe Biden. He had worked with Biden before, helping him with speeches and committee work.
In October 2014, Klain was appointed as the "Ebola response coordinator." This role was sometimes called the Ebola "czar." Even though he wasn't a public health expert, he was chosen for his skill in coordinating different government agencies. His time as Ebola coordinator ended in February 2015.
After this, Klain advised organizations that work on global threats and support progressive causes.
Working with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Years
In 2015, Klain joined Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. He helped her get ready for debates against other Democrats and against Republican nominee Donald Trump. After Trump won the election, Klain continued to work at Revolution LLC. He also often spoke out against the Trump administration on TV and in articles.
Biden Campaign and Administration
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During Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign, Klain advised him on the COVID-19 pandemic. He believed that getting many people vaccinated would be the biggest health challenge. He also helped Biden prepare for his debates against Donald Trump. On November 11, 2020, it was announced that Joe Biden had chosen Klain to be his White House Chief of Staff.
Klain was praised for his strong organizational skills and for being quick to respond. He was also known for using Twitter to see what reporters were talking about and to share pro-Biden messages.
In October 2022, an office called the United States Office of Special Counsel found that Klain had broken a rule called the Hatch Act. This act limits political activity by government employees. He was warned not to do it again.
Klain was seen as a very effective chief of staff. He helped pass major laws like the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He resigned in January 2023, after a successful period for the Biden Administration. On February 1, 2023, the White House held an event to say goodbye to Klain. He returned to a law firm, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, in April 2023.
After the Biden Administration
On November 20, 2023, Airbnb announced that Klain would join the company as its chief legal officer starting in January 2024.
Before the 2024 United States presidential election, Klain publicly advised Biden's campaign. He suggested they should focus on immediate money problems for American voters, like inflation. He thought this was more important than talking about long-term projects.
Ron Klain's Personal Life
Klain is married to Monica Medina, who is also a lawyer and consultant. They met in college at Georgetown University. In 2019, Klain tweeted that they were celebrating their 40th Valentine's Day together. They have three grown children named Hannah, Michael, and Daniel.
Financial records show that Klain's assets were worth between $4.4 million and $12.2 million in 2021. This was an increase from $1.4 million to $3.5 million in 2009. In 2020, he earned almost $2 million from Revolution LLC, where he was a general counsel. In 2009, he reported earning $1 million.
Klain lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland. His neighbors include Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He has called his large home "the House That O’Melveny Built," referring to his profitable time at the law firm O’Melveny & Myers.
See also
- List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 6)
