The current national conversation on Watergate offers an important reminder of the slough through corruption and ethical erosion that tested the foundations of American democracy, degraded public faith in government and depleted the credibility of the United States attorney general. It is also a reminder of those who worked assiduously to restore that faith and credibility, notably including a legal scholar and academic from Chicago.

From 1972 through 1974, five different men served as either permanent or acting attorney general, an extraordinary leadership turnstile that undermined the principles and effectiveness of the office.

Of these five men, John Mitchell was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury for activities that began while in office. His successor, Richard Kleindienst, was convicted of contempt of Congress. The highly regarded Elliot Richardson and his deputy, William Ruckelshaus, both resigned as part of the “Saturday Night Massacre.” Their successor, Robert H. Bork was succeeded by U.S. Sen. William Saxbe, who served until shortly after President Gerald Ford’s inauguration.

More broadly, over 20 government-serving lawyers resigned or were indicted, disbarred and/or imprisoned in connection with Watergate-related abuses. Apart from Mitchell and Kleindienst, they included an acting FBI director, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the........

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