Series: Citizen K Street
The Life and Career of Gerald S. J. Cassidy: How Lobbying Became Washington's Biggest Business
Robert G. Kaiser and Derek Willis, Washington Post
Chapter 25: Cassidy hires an important Republican, who reshapes the firm.
Early in 2003, an influential but decidedly un-famous aide to one of the most powerful members of the House of Representatives concluded -- with his boss's blessing -- that it was time to "go downtown." This move had become almost routine for aides to senior congressmen. More than two dozen assistants to the longtime House Majority Leader, Tom Delay, had moved from his office to lobbying jobs downtown. Now it was the turn of Gregg Hartley, the alter ego of Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the House majority whip and a DeLay protégé. At the age of 50, Hartley was ready to try the private sector.
At that moment, Cassidy & Associates was in the market for new talent. Things had gone badly for the InterPublic Group (IPG), the conglomerate that bought the Cassidy firm at the end of 1999. From a high of $58 a share that December, IPG shares had fallen to less than $10 early in 2003. A series of accounting problems had repeatedly forced the company to restate earnings and write off losses.
Related:
»Jeff Leen, The Post's assistant managing editor for investigative projects, answered reader questions about the Citizen K Street series. Read the Transcript.
»Robert G. Kaiser, the reporter for the Citizen K Street series, was online to answer reader questions about this project. Read the transcript.
