The Washington Information Directory (WID) is a topically organized reference resource that lists contact information for federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations in the Washington metro area along with a brief paragraph describing what each organization does related to that topic. In addition, WID pulls together 55 organization charts for federal agencies, congressional resources related to each chapter topic, hotline and contact information for various specific areas of interest (from Food Safety Resources to internships in Washington), and an extensive list of active congressional caucuses and contact details. WID has two appendices, one with thorough information on congresspersons and committees, and the second with governors and embassies.
The Washington Information Directory is the essential one-stop source for information on U.S. governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations. This thoroughly researched guide provides capsule descriptions that help users quickly and easily find the right person at the right organization. The Washington Information Directory offers three easy ways to find information: by name, by organization, and through detailed subject indexes. Although it is a "directory, the volume is topically organized, and within the taxonomic structure the relevant organizations are listed not only with contact information but with a brief paragraph describing what the organization (whether government or nongovernmental) does related to that topic. It is focused on Washington—in order to be listed, an organization must have an office in the Washington metropolitan area. These descriptions are not boilerplate advertising material from the organizations; rather, they are hand-crafted by a talented freelance research team. In addition, the Washington Information Directory pulls together 55 organization charts for federal agencies, congressional resources related to each chapter topic, hotline and contact information for various specific areas of interest (from Food Safety Resources to internships in Washington), and an extensive list of active congressional caucuses and contact details. It has two appendices, one with thorough information on congresspersons and committees, and the second with governors and embassies. With more than 10,000 listing and coverage of the new presidential administration, the 2019–2020 Edition features contact information for the following: • 116th Congress and federal agencies • Nongovernmental organizations • Policy groups, foundations, and institutions • Governors and other state officials • U.S. ambassadors and foreign diplomats • Congressional caucuses
The Plum Book is published by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and House Committee on Oversight and Reform alternately after each Presidential election. The Plum Book is used to identify Presidential appointed and other positions within the Federal Government. The publication lists over 9,000 Federal civil service leadership and support positions in the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment. The duties of many such positions may involve advocacy of Administration policies and programs and the incumbents usually have a close and confidential working relationship with the agency head or other key officials. The Plum Book was first published in 1952 during the Eisenhower administration. When President Eisenhower took office, the Republican Party requested a list of government positions that President Eisenhower could fill. The next edition of the Plum Book appeared in 1960 and has since been published every four years, just after the Presidential election.
