The Republic of Turkey has had a rough month. After an attempted coup and the subsequent state-sponsored crackdown on everything from teachers to the media, the country is badly in need of some good PR.
Enter longtime Hill aide Dan Scandling, now senior director of public affairs for APCO Worldwide, whom Turkey has retained for communication services. As former chief of staff to two members of Congress, Scalding is accustomed to difficult, high-pressure jobs.
The Turkish government is looking for APCO to provide "media relations, crisis communications, third party outreach and social media strategy and development within the United States all in furtherance of promoting positive relations between the Republic of Turkey and the United States," according to a recent disclosure form. APCO's services will cost Turkey $74,200 for just two weeks of services from Aug. 1 to 15.
The firm previously worked with Turkey to promote positive relations beginning in 2000 but that contract lapsed in 2007.
Scandling held several high-powered positions on the Hill, including serving as chief of staff to former Rep. Herb Bateman (R-Va.) from 1990 until 2000 and, most recently, as chief of staff to former Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) from 2009 until Wolf's retirement in January 2015.
