🚀 go-pugleaf

I found the following book review in talk.politics.misc.
I haven't seen the book itself.

 From: sbrock@teal.csn.org (Steve Brock)
 Subject: Review of "Washington Information Directory 93-94"
 Organization: Colorado SuperNet, Inc.

CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY'S WASHINGTON INFORMATION DIRECTORY 1993-
1994, edited by Jerry A. Orvedahl.  Congressional Quarterly Press,
1414 22nd St. N.W., Washington, D.C, 20037 (800) 638-1710, (202)
728-1863 FAX.  Those with Internet access and a Washington alert
password may access most of the information in this volume by
telneting to cqalert.com.  Those without Internet accounts, but
possessing a Washington Alert password may call (202) 887-5101
(1200 and 2400 baud), (202) 293-0062 (9600 baud).  More information
on Washington Alert is available by calling (202) 887-6366. 
Illustrated (organization charts), map, name and subject indexes. 
1126 pp., $89.95 cloth.  0-87187-772-4

                             REVIEW

     This book won't tell you the latest gossip being bantered
about Washington D.C.'s back rooms, but it will tell you where to
find that information.  For example, you may call Tom Foley,
Speaker of the House (202-225-5604), and ask him why the Democrats
in the House didn't give Clinton more support on the budget bill,
or you may call the Department of Health and Human Services (202-
690-6343) to ask why they plan to cut more than one-third of the
positions at the Indian Health Service, when that agency receives
only about two percent of the department's funding.
     The "Washington Information Directory" is a snap to use. 
Arranged alphabetically by subject area (Energy, National Security,
Science), each of the eighteen chapters contains a quick-reference
of the most-used information (such as key agencies, committees and
policymakers).  The chapter is further divided into smaller subject
areas, which are split into government agencies, Senate or House
committees and subcommittees, and nonprofit private and special-
interest groups that have offices in the Washington D.C. metro
area.  
     Displayed in this manner, the Subgovernment or "Iron Triangle"
(where members of a congressional committees, bureaucratic
departments or agencies, and interest groups have a cooperative
arrangement and primary responsibility for the formation of public
policy in specific areas) is easy to comprehend.
     The individual listings contain the name, address, and
telephone number of the organization, names of key administrators
and contact persons, and a short paragraph describing its function.
     While the directory tries to keep up with all the new faces
(Dee Dee Myers, Press Secretary, and Janet Reno, Attorney General,
are included), there have been many holds placed on nominees for
several subcabinet-level positions.  Senate rules allow individuals
to delay action on confirmation proceedings in order to win
concessions from the Executive Branch on policy issues, much the
same tactic that is used with legislation.  
     For this reason, several names are missing.  Instead, the
entry for that department lists the name of the acting or designat-
ed administrator.  A notable omission is Ada Deer (assistant
secretary of the Bureau of Indian Affairs).
     While the directory is quite comprehensive, there is at least
one discrepancy.  There is no mention of the Indian Health Service
Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, although there is an entry for
its parent agency, Health and Human Services, also in Rockville.
     In addition to listing departments, agencies, and organiza-
tions in Washington D.C., the directory lists foreign embassies,
U.S. ambassadors, labor unions, regional sources of federal
information, governors (lieutenant governors, secretaries of state,
attorney generals) of states, mayors of major cities, members of
the 103rd Congress (and their committee appointments), and details
on using the Freedom of Information Act to obtain government
information.
     The "Washington Information Directory" is highly recommended
for the reference section of academic and public libraries, as well
as on the desk of anyone desiring to influence or learn about
public policy.  The faces may change, but government muddles on.
-- 
Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada  ae446@freenet.carleton.ca