 He spoke one-on-one with Jeff Zients, his White House chief of staff, and Jen O'Malley Dillon, his campaign chair. Zients then convened Biden's White House and campaign senior staff for a 1.45 p.m. call so that Biden could tell those who had worked closest with him he was abandoning his dream of a second term. As Biden spoke on that call, a letter announcing his attentions went live online.