Too Late for Blagojevich, a Watergate Refugee Teaches Ethics to Lawyers

As former Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich’s rhetorical self-immolation painfully commenced last week under government cross-examination, it dawned on me that he, like so many of our public miscreants, is an attorney.

 It was the same during our most famous political scandal, Watergate. From President Richard M. Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell on down, many who broke the law and went to prison, or were simply disgraced, were lawyers.

 It’s thus unfortunate that John W. Dean’s imminent arrival in Chicago might be ill-timed for Blago, immersed in his retrial and presumably anxious about being fitted for an orange jumpsuit and having his law license yanked.

Mr. Dean, who was disbarred as a result of the Watergate scandal, will be here teaching an ethics course. But it’s not just any course. It’s about Watergate and is certified by the Illinois Supreme Court as part of the 24 hours of continuing legal education that Illinois lawyers must take in the two-year period ending June 30 to keep their licenses. Show up at either of two four-hour Chicago sessions on June 13 or June 15 and you’ll get credits toward that requirement.

“I wish I could have attended something like this before I went to work at the White House,” said Mr. Dean, who spent his grade school years in Flossmoor....