American Notes WASHINGTON

Nominees for high office these days are routinely required to bare their souls. But John Shepherd, designated last week as second in command at the Justice Department, must be the first who has offered to drop his pants. That suggestion came after a former bookkeeper on trial for embezzlement claimed that she had had a nine-month affair with him. The bookkeeper, named Denise Sinner (yes, really), said she knew Shepherd in intimate detail -- just check for a mole in his groin area. Shepherd, a former president of the American Bar Association, denied the affair and said he was willing to submit to a physical exam. The judge rejected the offer.

Sinner, who last month was convicted of embezzling $147,000 from Shepherd's law firm in St. Louis, contended that Shepherd had encouraged her to take the money. The office of Attorney General Edwin Meese dismissed that allegation as "nonsense," and neither of Sinner's charges against Shepherd has been substantiated. However, the initial media look into Shepherd's background established that he is a member of an all-male St. Louis club and another club that is all white. Though Shepherd said he is determined to remain in contention, his troubles are an additional embarrassment for Meese, who needs more setbacks about as much as Custer needed more Indians.