 Frank Underwood ( Kevin Spacey ) is an ambitious Democratic congressman and the House Majority Whip . Underwood helped ensure the election of President Garrett Walker ( Michel Gill ) , who promised to appoint Underwood as Secretary of State . However , before Walker is sworn in , Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez ( Sakina Jaffrey ) announces that the president will not honor the agreement and will instead nominate Senator Michael Kern . Furious at Walker 's betrayal , Underwood and his wife Claire ( Robin Wright ) , an environmental activist , make a pact to destroy Kern . When Zoe Barnes ( Kate Mara ) makes her resources available , she becomes one of their pawns . 
 Frank Underwood ( Kevin Spacey ) <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>an ambitious Democratic congressman and the House Majority Whip . Underwood helped ensure the election of President Garrett Walker ( Michel Gill ) , <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>promised to appoint Underwood as Secretary of State . However , before Walker is sworn in , Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez ( Sakina Jaffrey ) <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>announces</mark></a> that the president will not honor <a href='None' title='4'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>agreement</mark></a> and will instead nominate Senator Michael Kern . Furious at Walker <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>betrayal , Underwood and his wife Claire ( Robin Wright ) , an environmental activist , make a pact to destroy Kern . When Zoe Barnes ( Kate Mara ) <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>makes</mark></a> her resources available , she <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>becomes</mark></a> one of their pawns . 
Frank Underwood ( Kevin Spacey ) an ambitious Democratic congressman and the krib Majority Whip . Underwood helped ensure the election of President rashad Walker ( Michel Gill ) , promised to appoint Underwood as Secretary of State . However , before Walker is sworn in , Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez ( Sakina Jaffrey ) announce dat the president will not honor no agreement and will instead nominate Senator micheal Kern . Furious at Walker  betrayal , Underwood and his wife Claire ( Robin Wright ) , an environmental activist , make a pact to destroy Kern . When Zoe Barnes ( Kate Mara ) make her resources available , she become one of their pawns .