(CNN) -- Washington needs to be reformed. With polls consistently showing that Americans distrust their government and an abundance of evidence that our political system is not working well (some polls have shown that legislators are less trusted than car salesmen), the urgency of improving the rules and procedures through which our politicians govern is essential. It is a good time to look back at the Watergate Babies, most of whom have left town. Over the past month, two of the giants from this class, California Reps. George Miller and Henry Waxman have announced that they will retire. Almost the entire class is gone, other than Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Minnesota Democrat Rick Nolan.
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Julian Zelizer: The last few reformers elected after Watergate are retiring
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Their key message: Cleaning up government should precede policy changes
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Zelizer says Barack Obama promised change in 2008 but largely abandoned the effort
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He says U.S. needs to rein in lobbyists, regulate campaign donations, remove secrecy
The @placeholder also led the way in instituting changes in rules and regulations.