K Street Files: Cassidy Lands Recurring Role in ‘House of Cards’
The opening credits of Netflix’s inside-the-Beltway show “House of Cards” offer glimpses of iconic D.C. spots such as the Capitol, the FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover Building and statues of soldiers on horses.
And the headquarters of Cassidy & Associates.
The firm’s 10th and G building, which also houses the National Association of Manufacturers and firms Golin Harris and Weber Shandwick, appears alongside the name of show producer Keith Huff.
Cassidy public relations consultant Tom Alexander said it took a few episodes before he realized that the night shot of a modern building was Cassidy’s digs.
The firm’s Kai Anderson, a former aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, said he had skipped watching the show up until now.
But “I’ve now got no choice,” Cassidy’s chief strategy officer and executive vice president said. “I’m going to have to resubscribe to Netflix and start watching.”
Both Anderson and Alexander hyped the green building’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. “This was a great move for us,” Anderson said, noting that the shop relocated last year from 700 13th St. NW. “This is a much better building to be in as an employee. There is so much sunshine.”
Reminds us of when Rep. Francis Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, says in the first episode of “House of Cards”: “Power’s a lot like real estate. It’s all about location, location, location. The closer you are to the source, the higher your property value.”
Coalition Uploads Dell, GE
Six new members have signed on to the inSPIRE STEM USA Coalition, including Dell Inc. and General Electric Co.
The group, also known as the Supporting Productive Immigration Reform and Education coalition, is urging new immigration and education policies that would result in more workers with expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. InSPIRE STEM is chaired by former Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire and Maria Cardona, a former adviser to the presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In addition to Dell and GE, the Afterschool Alliance, Code.org, the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies have joined the fold of 36 members.
“The reason groups representing education, business and advocacy communities have come together is that they recognize America must improve its record in producing students trained in STEM and computer science fields,” coalition Executive Director Beneva Schulte said.
Seniors on the Hill
AARP’s Public Policy Institute will host a briefing Monday to draw attention to cost-of-living adjustment proposals to Social Security. The senior lobby has booked the Capitol Visitor Center for 10 a.m. and will take on not-very-riveting-sounding — but extremely controversial — policies such as a “chained” Consumer Price Index.
Speakers span the political spectrum and include AARP’s Gary Koenig; Dean Baker of the Center for Economic Policy and Research; Stephen Goss, chief actuary of the Social Security Administration; and Tom Tarantino of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, among others.
K Street Moves
The Aerospace Industries Association has landed Christian P. Marrone as its vice president for national security and acquisition policy. Marrone, a former Pentagon official, has long focused on budget policy — a critical area for the industry, which has taken a hit in the automatic sequester cuts.
Please send tips to kstreet@rollcall.com.