My take...
He was well connected. Most lawyers don't get to walk out of law school, pass the Bar, and get a slot as an Assistant U.S. Attorney within two years. Unless they know someone, or have a certain last name. And he then got the U.S. Attorney job six years later. Now, he held that job for 12 years (both Reagan terms and Bush term). 18 years as a prosecutor means a career prosecutor, and that is a good thing to have as an AG.
The scandals that have come up, especially during attempts to get him confirmed as a district court judge...nothing major. He stood by charges filed on his watch, even amid allegations of racial motives. He didn't personally prosecute the Klan members, but I can guarantee he had a say in it being done since he was in charge.
Since then, he's been a politician. Well, you generally don't get considered to be AG unless you've been a politician in some way.
Eagle Scout. He learned to achieve goals young. This, and growing up in Alabama, means he's probably got pro-gun leanings. How far, time will tell...