The Ascension of Ron Klain President Biden’s chief of staff worked his whole career to reach the corner office of the West Wing. He says he’s just a “staff person,” but Republicans call him “Prime Minister Klain.” Ron Klain, the White House chief of staff, has worked for President Biden on and off for 35 years.Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times July 18, 2021, 6:22 p.m. ET WASHINGTON — Ron Klain, who after a few near misses finally achieved his career-long goal of becoming the White House chief of staff, will turn 60 this summer. This is, as his boss might say, a big deal.