  We have surveyed the optical linear polarization of a completely identified
sample of 43 bright soft-X-ray-selected ROSAT AGN. Most (40) of these AGN show
low polarization (<1%), and no clear optical reddening. This supports the
suggestion from rapid X-ray variability, disk-like spectral energy
distributions, and lack of cold X-ray absorption, that we are viewinga bare AGN
disk. IRAS F12397+3333 and IRAS 13349+2438 show high polarization increasing to
the UV -- clear evidence for scattering. As well as steep, soft-X-ray spectra,
they show optical reddening and rapid X-ray variability, but almost no cold
X-ray absorption -- a combination that suggests dusty ionized gas along the
line-of-sight. Brandt et al. suggested and found these `warm absorbers' for
IRAS 13349+2438. IRAS F12397+3333 is a new candidate. Combining our data with
the optical and X-ray spectra of the high polarization narrow-line Seyfert 1
nuclei (NLSy1s) investigated by Goodrich reveals strong correlations among
optical reddening indicators (such as the optical continuum slope and Balmer
decrement), [OIII]/H-beta, and cold intrinsic X-ray absorption. Optical
reddening underpredicts the cold X-ray absorption, suggesting dusty warm
absorbers in all the highly polarized AGN. The existence of these
scattering-polarized and reddened NLSy1s suggests an orientation Unified Scheme
within the class of NLSy1s, analogous to that linking Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2
nuclei.
  For some highly polarized and optically selected AGN we present new analysis
of archival X-ray data, and for the highly polarized AGN new optical
spectroscopy is presented in an appendix.
