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 on August 8, 1961, is an American lawyer and political expert. He worked as the White House Chief of Staff for President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2023.
As a member of the Democratic Party, Klain served as chief of staff for two different vice presidents. He worked for Al Gore from 1995 to 1999. Later, he worked for Joe Biden from 2009 to 2011 when Biden was Vice President.
President Barack Obama also chose Klain to be the White House Ebola Response Coordinator. This was a special role created to help manage the Ebola virus cases in the United States from 2014 to 2015.
In 2020, Klain was a main advisor for Joe Biden's presidential campaign. After Biden won, he announced that Klain would be his White House chief of staff. Many people saw Klain as a strong supporter of the progressive ideas within the Democratic Party.
In January 2023, Klain shared his plans to leave his role as chief of staff. He was replaced by Jeff Zients on February 7, 2023.
Early Life and Education
Ronald Alan Klain was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father, Stanley Klain, was a building contractor, and his mother, Sarann Warner, was a travel agent. Klain is Jewish.
He finished high school at North Central High School in 1979. He was part of the school's Brain Game team, which did very well. 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. In 1987, he received his law degree from Harvard Law School. While there, he was an editor for the Harvard Law Review.
Career Highlights
Early Legal and Government Work
From 1983 to 1984, Klain worked for U.S. Representative Ed Markey. He helped with laws and policies. Klain also worked as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Byron White in 1987 and 1988.
From 1989 to 1992, he was the chief lawyer for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. He managed legal work on important topics like constitutional law and Supreme Court nominations. In 1995, Senator Tom Daschle made him the staff director for the Senate Democratic Leadership Committee.
Working with President Clinton
Klain joined Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992. He helped with both of Clinton's campaigns. In the White House, Klain was an Associate Counsel to the President. He helped choose judges and led the team that confirmed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court.
In 1994, he became chief of staff for Attorney General Janet Reno. 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 started his presidential campaign in 1999. In August 1999, Klain left to join a law firm called O'Melveny & Myers.
He later became the general counsel for Gore's Recount Committee. In this role, Klain oversaw the counting of votes in Florida during the 2000 United States presidential election recount in Florida. This recount ended when the Supreme Court stopped the counting, and George W. Bush became president.
Roles Before Obama's Presidency
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During the 2004 presidential campaign, Klain advised Wesley Clark. After John Kerry became the Democratic nominee, Klain worked behind the scenes for his campaign. Klain also worked as a lobbyist for Fannie Mae until 2005.
In 2005, Klain left his law firm to become an executive at Revolution LLC. This was a technology investment company started by AOL co-founder Steve Case. Before he was chosen as the Ebola response coordinator in 2014, he was the general counsel at Revolution LLC.
Working with President Obama
Klain helped Barack Obama get ready for the 2008 United States presidential debates. In November 2008, Klain was chosen to be chief of staff for Vice President Joe Biden. He had worked with Biden before, including when Biden led the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In May 2010, Klain approved a visit by President Obama to a solar-panel company called Solyndra. Klain later left the White House in January 2011. He returned to Case Holdings, where he helped manage Revolution LLC.
On October 17, 2014, Klain was named the "Ebola response coordinator" or "Ebola czar." Even though he didn't have a background in public health, he was praised for his skills in coordinating different government groups. His time as Ebola response coordinator ended in February 2015.
After this role, Klain advised the Skoll Foundation Global Threats Fund. He also worked for Higher Grounds Labs, a group that supports new companies helping progressive causes.
Clinton Campaign and Trump Years
In 2015, Klain joined Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. He helped Clinton prepare for her debates against other Democrats and against Donald Trump. After Trump won the election, Klain continued to work at Revolution LLC. He often spoke out against the Trump administration in articles and on TV.
Working with President Biden
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During Biden's 2020 campaign, Klain advised on the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that getting many people vaccinated would be the biggest health challenge of 2021. He also helped Biden prepare for his debates against 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 as chief of staff. He was also known for using Twitter to see what reporters were discussing and to share pro-Biden messages. In October 2022, the United States Office of Special Counsel found that Klain had broken a rule called the Hatch Act. This rule limits political activities for 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 left his role after the Biden Administration had a strong showing in the 2022 United States elections and signs that inflation was easing.
On January 21, 2023, it was reported that Klain would step down as chief of staff after the 2023 State of the Union Address. On February 1, 2023, the White House held an event to say goodbye to Klain. He returned to the law firm O'Melveny & Myers LLP on April 18, 2023.
After the Biden Administration
On November 20, 2023, Airbnb announced that Klain would become their chief legal officer starting January 1, 2024.
Before the 2024 United States presidential election, Klain publicly advised the Biden campaign. He suggested they focus on immediate money problems for American voters, like inflation. He thought this was more important than talking about long-term projects like infrastructure.
Personal Life
Klain is married to Monica Medina, who is also a lawyer and consultant. They met in college at Georgetown University. In February 2019, Klain tweeted that they were celebrating their 40th Valentine's Day together. They have three adult children: Hannah, Michael, and Daniel.
Financial records showed that Klain's assets were worth between $4.4 million and $12.2 million in 2021. This was more than the $1.4 million to $3.5 million he reported in 2009. In 2020, he earned almost $2 million from Revolution LLC. In 2009, he reported earning $1 million.
Klain lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland. His neighbors include U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He has called his large home "the House That O’Melveny Built," referring to the money he earned at the law firm O’Melveny & Myers.
See also
In Spanish: Ron Klain para niños
- List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 6)
