Scalia, Cheney, and other advocates of expansive presidential power assailed Carter’s reforms. But there was broad public support for “good government” laws designed to prevent crimes. The raft of reforms enacted by Carter set a post-Watergate standard for disclosure, behavior, and investigation in Washington. In the short term, they would be questioned, tested, and altered by Reagan, as well as other presidents, but over time the need for them would be embraced by Republicans and Democrats.
