Biden's First Appointment: Ron Klain as White House Chief of Staff

Served as Chief of Staff to Vice Presidents Biden and Gore
Led Ebola Virus Response During Obama Administration

President-elect Joe Biden of the United States and Ron Klain, the designated White House Chief of Staff (left) [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Ron Klain, former Vice Presidential Chief of Staff, as the first White House Chief of Staff, according to U.S. media including The New York Times (NYT) on the 11th (local time). This is the first time Biden has announced appointments related to the formation of his next administration.

Nominee Klain has had a long-standing relationship with President-elect Biden. He served as Vice Presidential Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2011 during Biden's vice presidency, and earlier in the 1980s, he worked closely with Biden as the chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman.

Klain also served as Chief of Staff to former Vice President Al Gore from 1995 to 1999. After serving twice as Vice Presidential Chief of Staff, he is finally set to become the Presidential Chief of Staff.

U.S. media have described Klain's nomination as a natural choice, given that he was one of the most trusted figures within the Biden campaign during the election period.

Particularly notable is Klain's role as the federal government's 'Ebola Czar' during the Obama administration in 2014, overseeing efforts to combat the Ebola virus outbreak in the U.S. CNN evaluated that Klain's experience could be a great asset to the White House's efforts to overcome the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement regarding the appointment, President-elect Biden said, "His broad political spectrum experience working with many people and his deep capabilities are exactly what is needed as Chief of Staff. Together, we will lead our country once again in the face of crisis."

The NYT also introduced Klain as having tremendous wit, often resisting President Donald Trump through Twitter.

Despite the Chief of Staff nomination, it is widely expected that it will take considerable time for Biden to form his cabinet. Biden said the day before, "I hope to be able to announce at least one or two people before Thanksgiving (the 26th)." However, CNN reported, citing sources, that the first cabinet appointments are expected to be made by early next month.

The first appointments are expected to be for the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Defense. Other cabinet nominees are expected to be decided after the Georgia Senate elections conclude in January next year.

This is in consideration of the possibility that the Democratic Party will control the Senate. If the Democrats win both seats in the Georgia Senate runoff elections, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would hold the casting vote, giving the Democrats the majority in the Senate. In this case, it would be easier for Biden's preferred nominees to pass confirmation hearings, but if not, conciliatory measures such as appointing a majority of Republican figures as cabinet members would be necessary.

President-elect Biden has already expressed willingness to appoint Republicans to cabinet positions. The Hill reported that 'Korean son-in-law' Larry Hogan, Governor of Maryland, Charlie Baker, Governor of Massachusetts, and John Kasich, former Governor of Ohio, are being considered for cabinet posts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.