Congress passes a law strengthening the laws relating to bribery and conflicts of interest of government personnel. It also prevented the "revolving door" – that is, a government employee leaves their position for a job in the private sector and attempts to influence a federal proceeding. The law took effect on Jan. 22, 1963.

Bayless Manning, who served on Kennedy's Ethics Advisory Committee, warns about the high cost of ethics reform in an essay titled "The Purity Potlatch: Conflicts of Interest and Moral Escalation." According to historian Robert S. Roberts, Manning condemned the emphasis on conflicts of interest and ethics in government. "In the public mind, to receive a gift or to have a conflict of interest has by now been equated with venality; a government official in a position of conflicting interests is kind of a crook," Manning wrote.

Lyndon Johnson orders an expansion of ethics management within the Civil Service Commission. The order, which covered all executive branch employees, included a prohibition on federal employees using public office for private gain. The measure also required departments and agencies to create an ethics program headed by a designated agency official. It also required presidential nominees to file confidential financial disclosure statements.

LBJ signs a law authorizing the Freedom of Information Act.

Johnson signs the so-called "nepotism statute," which forbids an executive agency official from appointing relatives to a civilian position "in the agency in which he is serving."

Richard Nixon is elected. He appoints David Packard, the founder of Hewlett Packard, to be an assistant secretary of defense. Packard objected to selling his interest in Hewlett Packard for fear it would damage the company. He agreed to put his holdings in a trust to avoid any conflict of interest.

A break-in is reported in the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel. The scandal forced Nixon to resign and prompted Congress to institute a flurry of ethics reforms.

Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns following charges that he was engaged in a bribery scandal during his time as Maryland's governor. Agnew pled no contest in exchange for his resignation.

Vice President Gerald Ford becomes President.

President Gerald Ford appoints New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller to be his vice president. There is criticism that Rockefeller could face conflicts of interest because of his enormous wealth.

Democrat Jimmy Carter defeats President Gerald Ford, campaigning heavily on changing Washington in light of problems that stemmed from Watergate.

Office of Management and Budget Director Bert Lance resigns after a congressional investigation finding that Lance treated the financial institution he once ran like a "personal piggy bank." The allegations also include obtaining loans at favorable rates and using a company planes. President Jimmy Carter tried to support his friend, but the scandal became a distraction during the president's efforts to reform government. Lance was charged with conspiracy, fraud and violating several banking laws. A jury acquitted Lance.

Congress passes the Ethics in Government Act, requiring federal employees to file financial disclosures. It also created the Office of Government Ethics. It also ensured that alleged crimes committed by senior government officials will be investigated by an independent counsel.

President Ronald Reagan's personnel director E. Pendleton James says the financial disclosure requirements created by the Ethics in Government Act discourage business leaders from joining the administration.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Raymond Donovan resigns his position after he is ordered to stand trial on fraud and larceny charges. Donovan is the first sitting Cabinet member ever to be indicted. A jury acquitted him in 1987. After the decision, Donovan famously asked, "Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?"

President Reagan speaks about his role in the Iran-Contra Affair following congressional hearings about the decision to sell arms to Iran in exchange for the release of U.S. hostages. The funds from the sale were then diverted to rebels fighting to destabilize a Marxist regime. Reagan said he didn't know the funds were diverted to Nicaragua.

President George H.W. Bush signs the Ethics Reform Act that forbids government employees from accepting speaking fees and forbids top-level officials from lobbying anyone in the executive branch for a year after leaving the government job. The law also allowed political appointees to delay paying capital gains taxes on assets divested because of their appointment. It also gave members of Congress and government officials a pay raise. The measure exempts the president, vice president, judges and lawmakers from conflict-of-interest provisions.

Agriculture secretary Mike Espy is acquitted on corruption charges.

The U.S. House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton for lying to a federal jury and the obstruction of justice. Clinton initially denied having an affair with a former White House intern.

The Independent Counsel Law expires when Congress decides not to renew it.

I. Lewis Libby Jr. is convicted of lying to FBI agents and obstructing justice in a federal investigation into who leaked the name of a CIA agent to reporters in 2003. Libby served as chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.

President George W. Bush signs a bill into law that overhauls the Freedom of Information Act. The so-called OPEN Government Act created the Office of Government Information Services. The office aims to resolve conflicts between agencies and people requesting government information.

President Obama signs the Stop Trading Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Act, a ban on insider trading by Congress. The bill forbids many members of the executive branch and members of Congress from using insider information to trade stocks or other securities. The law also requires officials to disclose trades within 45 days and post the information online.

Obama signs a measure weakening the STOCK Act. It exempted members of Congress and some federal employees from disclosing their financial holdings online.

President-elect Donald Trump says he will put his businesses into a trust. He commits to retaining ownership but gives daily operations to his two sons and a business associate. Ethics officials say Trump's plan departs from past presidents and worry it will cause significant conflicts of interest.