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Since questions of illegal activity have arisen in the Watergate case and in the handling of Nixon campaign funds, one way to help clear the contentious air would be to place the Justice Department in less partisan hands. The practice of having such political operators as Robert Kennedy serving as John Kennedy's Attorney General and John Mitchell doing the same for Nixon makes the department suspect, as in the G.O.P.-ITT controversy. There are rumors, in fact, that Mitchell's man Richard Kleindienst may be eased out of his attorney generalship after a decent interval in the next Administration. One name mentioned so far as a successor, however, would hardly conciliate Democrats; it is that of John Ehrlichman, Nixon's aggressive adviser on domestic affairs. Also suggested has been Clark MacGregor, Nixon's campaign manager.
Other changes are expected in Cabinet positions. Defense Secretary Melvin Laird has made clear to reporters his intention to leave; New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, once a bitter Nixon critic, is rumored to be a possible successor. George Romney has announced his imminent departure as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Assistant Secretary Samuel Jackson, a black, might give blacks more hope for racially enlightened housing policies; Donald Rumsfeld, director of the Cost of Living Council, has been mentioned too. Also expected to leave, although there has been little talk of who might replace them, are Labor Secretary James Hodgson and Transportation Secretary John Volpe.
One of the most intriguing personnel situations involves foreign policy; Kissinger has completely overshadowed Secretary of State William Rogers. Yet the loyal Rogers shows few public signs of frustration over this and might stay on, although he would likely accept an appointment to the Supreme Court. In that case, Kissinger might move over to State, formalizing in that department the kind of harddriving, fast decision-making he instituted in the White House. Most likely to remain in their posts are Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz, Commerce Secretary Peter Peterson, Interior Secretary Rogers Morton, Treasury Secretary George Shultz and HEW Secretary Elliot Richardson, although the last-named is seen as another prospect for State if Rogers leaves.