History Characters / HouseOfCardsUSWhiteHouse

* HorribleJudgeofCharacter

[[folder:Jackie]]
!!Jacqueline 'Jackie' Sharp
->'''Played By:''' Creator/MollyParker

A congresswoman from California and military veteran tapped by Underwood to succeed him as Majority Whip when he is made Vice President. While she claims to work for herself and not be beholden to others, she sees her position constantly tested through her ties to Frank, Claire, and Remy Danton.

* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Subverted, kind of. She believes Remy Danton is this because of his pursuit of money, thinking he's a playboy. Turns out he's really a one woman type of man and doesn't like one night stands, which he makes clear after having one with her.]
* AmbitionIsEvil: Frank noticed this quickly about her and chose her because of it. [[spoiler:He later makes her an offer to join him in his plans for becoming POTUS with his wife Claire.]]
* EnemyEatsYourLunch: Done in a very subtle way to someone who isn't an enemy, but becomes one by the end of the episode.
* ItDoesntMeanAnything: Tries to take this stance [[spoiler:after having sex with Remy Danton for the first time. However, ultimately subverted as she develops a serious relationship with him by the end of season 2. When they break up, she tries to put this front up.]]
* JustFollowingOrders: Sharp's excuse for [[spoiler: her actions which resulted in the deaths of many innocent women and children in the Middle East when she was in the military before becoming a congresswoman.]]
* MeaningfulName: 'Sharp' certainly fits her. She has a sharp mind, and she's lethal.
* LonelyAtTheTop: After becoming Majority Whip, she loses one of her few friendships in the world and puts her career ahead of a budding romance with Remy, who even [[LampshadeHanging points out the job has made her cold]].
* WorthyOpponent: Proves to be an equal to Claire Underwood in every way, [[spoiler:after the two match wits over a bill about male military officers and rape. Impressed by this, Claire decides to work with Sharp and make her an offer to join Frank in their plans for the White House.]]

!Secretary of State

[[folder:Durant]]
!!Catherine "Cathy" Durant
->'''Played By:''' Jayne Atkinson

A Senator from Missouri who becomes Secretary of State after Frank brings about the downfall of the previous nominee.
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* IronLady: She might be as easily manipulated by Frank as anyone, but there's no shame in that and there's no denying Durant is one tough lady who isn't easily intimidated.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: She seems to be based on Hillary Clinton; she actively opposed the sitting President during the primaries, and later she would be promoted to Secretary of State. She even somewhat resembles Clinton in appearance.
[[/folder]]

A Senator from Colorado and the President's original choice for the position of Secretary of State.

->'''Frank Underwood''': Oh, Jim Matthews: [Garrett Walker's] right honorable vice-president. Former governor of Pennsylvania, he did his duty in delivering the Keystone State, bless his heart, and now they're about to put him out to pasture. But he looks happy enough, doesn't he? For some, it's simply the size of the chair.

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/walker_garrett_6022.jpg]]

->'''Tusk:''' He's easily manipulated.

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/matthews_james_9747.jpg]]

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vasquez_linda_8336.jpg]]

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gallagher_christina_2360.jpg]]

[[folder:Garrett Walker]]
!President Garrett Walker

[[folder:Patricia Walker]]
!Patricia 'Tricia' Walker

[[folder:Jim Matthews]]
!Vice President James 'Jim' Matthews

The Vice President and former Governor of Pennsylvania.

[[folder:Jackie Sharp]]
!Vice President Jacqueline 'Jackie' Sharp

A congresswoman chosen by Frank Underwood as his replacement before taking the job of Vice President. Debuts during the first episode of season 2.

* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Subverted, kind of. She believes [[spoiler: Remy Danton is this because of his pursuit of money, thinking he's a playboy. Turns out he's really a one woman type of man and doesn't like one night stands, which he makes clear after having one with her.]]

* LonelyAtTheTop: After becoming Majority Whip, she loses one of her few friendships in the world and puts her career ahead of a budding romance with [[spoiler:Remy]], who even [[LampshadeHanging points out the job has made her cold]].

[[folder:Catherine Durant]]
!Catherine Durant

The Secretary of State and former Senator from Missouri.

* IronLady: She might be as easily manipulated by Frank as anyone, but there's no shame in that and there's no denying Durant is tough lady who isn't easily intimidated.

[[folder:Michael Kern]]
!Michael Kern

The President's original choice for the position of Secretary of State.

[[folder:Linda Vasquez]]
!Linda Vasquez

The President's newly appointed Chief of Staff at the beginning of season 1. She aids Frank's schemes at some points and obstructs them at others, and at first seemingly does so solely at the behest of the President, but it is later revealed that she has her own agenda.

[[folder:Christina Gallagher]]
!Christina Gallagher

* DemotedToExtra: Despite her large role in season 1, Christina is demoted to a fairly minor role albeit one with an arc. She exists mostly as an UnwittingPawn for Claire to use in season 2.
* HonestAdvisor: As his campaign adviser, this is her job and she does her best at it.
* TheMistress: For Russo, but only due to secrecy and not true infidelity. [[spoiler:The First Lady suspects her of being this to Garrett.]]
* NiceGirl: She one of the most morally upright characters and this is reflected in her general demeanor.

* PutOnABus: [[spoiler:Claire sets the seeds into First Lady's mind that Christina is a sycophant willing to sleep her way to the top (given her past relationship with Russo, and she ends up getting transferred off-screen from the White House to another location.]]
* UnwittingPawn: Claire Underwood uses her as one to help [[spoiler:crumble the President's marriage.]]

[[folder:Nathan Green]]
!Nathan Green

the White House/FBI liaison.

* TheBully: To Gavin Orsay: Green is excessively cruel to him.

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* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Respected, craggy-faced, patrician Senator with a sort of hippieish past? Can anyone say "John Kerry"?

* TheIronLady: She might be as easily manipulated by Frank as anyone, but there's no shame in that and there's no denying Durant is tough lady who isn't easily intimidated.

!Chief of Staff

[[folder:Linda Vasquez]]
!Linda Vasquez
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vasquez_linda_8336.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Sakina Jaffrey

The President's newly appointed Chief of Staff at the beginning of season 1. She aids Frank's schemes at some points and obstructs them at others, and at first seemingly does so solely at the behest of the President, but it is later revealed that she has her own agenda.

* TheConsigliere: To President Walker.
* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler:After she resigns in Season 2, Linda gives Frank a precious gift. Frank mentions how he respects her even more for losing with dignity.]]
* InformedAbility: All of the traits Frank ascribes to her in the first episode. She is easily duped for most of the season, doesn't question why Frank is taking such an active role in the Walker presidency, and even when she confronts Frank on his long-term goal to be president, she accepts his admission without conflict.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm: [[spoiler:Resigns in Season 2, after she realized she can no longer compete with Frank in the White House.]]
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: Attempts unsuccessfully to use her influence to get her son into Stanford despite the fact that the admissions committee has turned him down.
* TenMinuteRetirement: Averted. Despite [[spoiler:resigning during Season 2, Linda is given a chance to get her job back, if she helps President Walker bring Frank Underwood down. Unfortunately for her, Frank's BatmanGambit with the letter, prevents this from happening.]]
* WorthyOpponent: Frank views her as one, as she is one of the few people he acknowledges are just as smart, tough-minded, and ruthless as he is.

!Secretary of State

[[folder:Catherine Durant]]
!Catherine Durant
->'''Played By:''' Jayne Atkinson

The Secretary of State and former Senator from Missouri.
!!!Tropes
* TheIronLady: She might be as easily manipulated by Frank as anyone, but there's no shame in that and there's no denying Durant is tough lady who isn't easily intimidated.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: She seems to be based on Hillary Clinton; she actively opposed the sitting President during the primaries, and later she would be promoted to Secretary of State. She even somewhat resembles Clinton in appearance.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Christina Gallagher]]
!Christina Gallagher
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gallagher_christina_2360.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Kristen Connolly

A headstrong congressional staffer involved in a secret relationship with Peter Russo, before becoming personal assistant to the President.

* DemotedToExtra: Despite her large role in season 1, Christina is demoted to a fairly minor role albeit one with an arc. She exists mostly as an UnwittingPawn for Claire to use in season 2.
* HonestAdvisor: As his campaign adviser, this is her job and she does her best at it.
* TheMistress: For Russo, but only due to secrecy and not true infidelity. [[spoiler:The First Lady suspects her of being this to Garrett.]]
* NiceGirl: She one of the most morally upright characters and this is reflected in her general demeanor.
* PuppyDogEyes: Christina has a big shining pair of 'em, which is quite helpful when dealing with Russo.
* PutOnABus: [[spoiler:Claire sets the seeds into First Lady's mind that Christina is a sycophant willing to sleep her way to the top (given her past relationship with Russo, and she ends up getting transferred off-screen from the White House to another location.]]
* UnwittingPawn: Claire Underwood uses her as one to help [[spoiler:crumble the President's marriage.]]

[[folder:Nathan Green]]
!Nathan Green
->'''Played By:''' Jeremy Holm

the White House/FBI liaison.

!Walker's Cabinet

[[folder:Linda Vasquez]]
!Linda Vasquez
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vasquez_linda_8336.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Sakina Jaffrey

The President's newly appointed Chief of Staff at the beginning of season 1. She aids Frank's schemes at some points and obstructs them at others, and at first seemingly does so solely at the behest of the President, but it is later revealed that she has her own agenda.

* TheConsigliere: To President Walker.
* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler:After she resigns in Season 2, Linda gives Frank a precious gift. Frank mentions how he respects her even more for losing with dignity.]]
* InformedAbility: All of the traits Frank ascribes to her in the first episode. She is easily duped for most of the season, doesn't question why Frank is taking such an active role in the Walker presidency, and even when she confronts Frank on his long-term goal to be president, she accepts his admission without conflict.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm: [[spoiler:Resigns in Season 2, after she realized she can no longer compete with Frank in the White House.]]
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: Attempts unsuccessfully to use her influence to get her son into Stanford despite the fact that the admissions committee has turned him down.
* TenMinuteRetirement: Averted. Despite [[spoiler:resigning during Season 2, Linda is given a chance to get her job back, if she helps President Walker bring Frank Underwood down. Unfortunately for her, Frank's BatmanGambit with the letter, prevents this from happening.]]
* WorthyOpponent: Frank views her as one, as she is one of the few people he acknowledges are just as smart, tough-minded, and ruthless as he is.

[[folder:Christina Gallagher]]
!Christina Gallagher
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gallagher_christina_2360.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Kristen Connolly

A headstrong congressional staffer involved in a secret relationship with Peter Russo, before becoming personal assistant to the President.

* DemotedToExtra: Despite her large role in season 1, Christina is demoted to a fairly minor role albeit one with an arc. She exists mostly as an UnwittingPawn for Claire to use in season 2.
* HonestAdvisor: As his campaign adviser, this is her job and she does her best at it.
* TheMistress: For Russo, but only due to secrecy and not true infidelity. [[spoiler:The First Lady suspects her of being this to Garrett.]]
* NiceGirl: She one of the most morally upright characters and this is reflected in her general demeanor.
* PuppyDogEyes: Christina has a big shining pair of 'em, which is quite helpful when dealing with Russo.
* PutOnABus: [[spoiler:Claire sets the seeds into First Lady's mind that Christina is a sycophant willing to sleep her way to the top (given her past relationship with Russo, and she ends up getting transferred off-screen from the White House to another location.]]
* UnwittingPawn: Claire Underwood uses her as one to help [[spoiler:crumble the President's marriage.]]

[[folder:Jackie Sharp]]
!Jacqueline Sharp
->'''Played By:''' Creator/MollyParker

A congresswoman chosen by Frank Underwood as his replacement before taking the job of Vice President. Debuts during the first episode of season 2.

* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Subverted, kind of. She believes [[spoiler: Remy Danton is this because of his pursuit of money, thinking he's a playboy. Turns out he's really a one woman type of man and doesn't like one night stands, which he makes clear after having one with her.]]
* AmbitionIsEvil: Frank noticed this quickly about her and chose her because of it. [[spoiler:He later makes her an offer to join him in his plans for becoming POTUS with his wife Claire.]]
* EnemyEatsYourLunch: Done in a very subtle way to someone who isn't an enemy, but becomes one by the end of the episode.
* ItDoesntMeanAnything: Tries to take this stance [[spoiler:after having sex with Remy Danton for the first time. However, ultimately subverted as she develops a serious relationship with him by the end of season 2. When they break up, she tries to put this front up.]]
* JustFollowingOrders: Sharp's excuse for [[spoiler: her actions which resulted in the deaths of many innocent women and children in the Middle East when she was in the military before becoming a congresswoman.]]
* MeaningfulName: 'Sharp' certainly fits her. She has a sharp mind, and she's lethal.
* LonelyAtTheTop: After becoming Majority Whip, she loses one of her few friendships in the world and puts her career ahead of a budding romance with [[spoiler:Remy]], who even [[LampshadeHanging points out the job has made her cold]].
* WorthyOpponent: Proves to be an equal to Claire Underwood in every way, [[spoiler:after the two match wits over a bill about male military officers and rape. Impressed by this, Claire decides to work with Sharp and make her an offer to join Frank in their plans for the White House.]]

[[folder:Catherine Durant]]
!Catherine Durant
->'''Played By:''' Jayne Atkinson

The Secretary of State and former Senator from Missouri.
!!!Tropes
* TheIronLady: She might be as easily manipulated by Frank as anyone, but there's no shame in that and there's no denying Durant is tough lady who isn't easily intimidated.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: She seems to be based on Hillary Clinton; she actively opposed the sitting President during the primaries, and later she would be promoted to Secretary of State. She even somewhat resembles Clinton in appearance.
[[/folder]]

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!Vice President James 'Jim' Matthews

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[[folder:Jacqueline Sharp]]

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* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler: After she resigns in Season 2, Linda gives Frank a precious gift. Frank mentions how he respects her even more for losing with dignity.]]

* KnowWhenToFoldEm: [[spoiler: Resigns in Season 2, after she realized she can no longer compete with Frank in the White House.]]

* TenMinuteRetirement: Averted. Despite [[spoiler: resigning during Season 2, Linda is given a chance to get her job back, if she helps President Walker bring Frank Underwood down. Unfortunately for her, Frank's BatmanGambit with the letter, prevents this from happening.]]

* TheMistress: For Russo.

* AmbitionIsEvil: Frank noticed this quickly about her and chose her because of it. [[spoiler: He later makes her an offer to join him in his plans for becoming POTUS with his wife Claire.]]
* ItDoesntMeanAnything: Tries to take this stance [[spoiler: after having sex with Remy Danton for the first time. However, ultimately subverted as she develops a serious relationship with him by the end of season 2. When they break up, she tries to put this front up.]]

* LonelyAtTheTop: After becoming Majority Whip, she loses one of her few friendships in the world and puts her career ahead of a budding romance with [[spoiler: Remy]], who even [[LampshadeHanging points out the job has made her cold]].

!The White House

[[folder:Patricia Walker

The President and former Governor of Colorado. He increasingly relies on and trusts Underwood.

* FatalFlaw: He's very gullible. [[spoiler: An example of this is the end of season 2. He realizes that Frank has been the source of most of his troubles, so he cuts Frank off and he brings back his old chief of staff. Walker then offers Raymond Tusk a pardon in exchange for revealing Frank's illegal activities to the Department of Justice's investigation. Everything would have worked for Walker if he had just kept to his plan. Frank would have been imprisoned and Walker could have at least salvaged one term in the presidency. However, Walker changes his mind when Frank sends him an emotional letter pleading for the president's friendship, and refuses to give Tusk the pardon. Tusk then perjures himself by implicating Walker in illegal activities, readying the congress to impeach Walker and causing Walker to resign.]]
* GoodIsDumb: The least morally dubious politician on the show, and is being constantly manipulated by [[spoiler: Tusk and later Underwood.]]
%%* NiceGuy
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Played with: [[spoiler:He seems to be easily manipulated by Underwood... but then it looks like he's the one who's pulling the strings. Then it turns out he's being manipulated by Tusk.]]
* ToxicFriendInfluence: Becomes a victim of this from both Frank Underwood and Raymond Tusk in Season 2, [[spoiler: resulting in him being manipulated out of the White House. Even more so with Frank, who uses a series of brilliant {{Batman Gambit}}s against Walker.]]