from his public example and sought foreign clients more discretely.rnDuring the 1980’s eight commissioners departedrnfrom the ITC. Four of the five who remained in Washington,rnall professionals in mid-career, registered as foreign agents orrnrepresented foreign interests before the commission withinrntwo years of resigning their public position.rnOver a longer span of time, from 1975 to 1988, Presidentsrndesignated eight individuals to chair the quasi-judicial ITC.rnFive of them subsequently passed through the revolving doorrnto represent foreign or import interests at the Commission.rnOnly one former chairman returned to the ITC to representrndomestic producers. The same pattern applied at other tradernagencies. A deputy assistant secretary of commerce resignedrnfrom office one day and appeared in Europe the next morningrnafter an all-night flight to hustle clients for his trade-remedyrnpractice.rnNot all public officials exploit the revolving door to accumulaternpersonal wealth. I will always remember the manyrnhonest and hardworking civil servants I encountered in governmentrnservice. These unsung heroes merit admiration forrntheir constant dedication to the public’s business. At a timernwhen some young professionals chase the Asian dollar, theyrnpersevere, patriotically and impartially administering lawsrnwhile maintaining high ethical standards. Their efforts keeprnthe wheels of government moving.rnWhat is the solution to foreign-interest lobbying? Alreadyrngovernment requires presidential-level appointees to fill outrnannual disclosure forms as complicated as the Form 1040.rnTrue, burdensome reporting requirements do not guaranteernindividual ethics, but such restrictions address the JamesrnWilkinson- and Daniel Webster-type indiscretions.rnl b slow the revolving door, the Clinton administration hasrnpromised new restrictions on post-government employment.rnSenior noncareer employees will be barred from lobbyingrntheir former department for five years. Trade negotiators willrnbe forbidden from representing foreign governments, politicalrnparties, or companies.rnAt first impression such changes seem overdue. But problemsrnremain. Many experienced and talented people mayrnfind such restrictions intolerable. As a result, efforts to mandaternethical public conduct also hamper recruitment of topqualityrnindividuals with requisite experience. This leaves thernUnited States with a second-class government of inexperiencedrnamateurs. Moreover, mandatory restrictions invite circumvention.rnAre American affiliates of foreign corporationsrnbarred from retaining former officials? Such an interpretationrncould jeopardize the constitutional right to petition government.rnBut, without such limitations, proposed rules have onlyrna cosmetic effect.rnFrom my vantage point, the best defense against improprietyrnremains a vigorous and adversarial press. The prospectrnof negative coverage in a national newspaper or on a networkrntelevision program like 60 Minutes operates as a powerful deterrentrnto improper activity. For, with a vigilant press oversight,rnthose who go to Washington to do good must contemplaternthe embarrassment of public exposure if they betray thernpublic trust and dishonor the folks back home.rn32/CHRONICLESrnrnrn