Only the president and vice-president are exempt from the laws but most obey their own statutes in the Constitution. He explained how strict government regulations of its employees create a level playing field for outside businesses wanting to create associations with the government.
Ethics is good for business.
His hour long speech focused on the rules and their importance. There is a saying that 'public service is a public trust'. This code of conduct whether for elected or appointed officials ultimately makes them accountable to the public. The code of conduct is based on 14 principles with the underlying theme that employees should avoid any action which creates the appearance that they are violating the law or ethical standards. Since all these rules could get a bit confusing, the OGE spends an hour with each new employee going over all the information.