美国总统21 切斯特·艾伦·阿瑟.docx

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1、美国总统21切斯特艾伦阿瑟ChesterA.Arthur:SurprisinglyGoodplaystopmutemaxvolume00:00-10:09repeatByKellyJeanKelly23Julyf2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmericasPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutChesterA.Arthur.(TheletterAisforAlanzhismiddlename.)Arthurtookofficebecausebecauseofanunexpectedevent.HewassworninasVicePre

2、sidentinMarch1881underJamesGarfield.Butonly100daysintoGarfieldsterm,thepresidentwasshot.Hesufferedformonths.ArthurwasnotclosetoGarfield.Thetwomenbelongedtothesameparty,buttheyhaddifferentideasontheissuesoftheday.Theypubliclydisagreedonanumberofsubjects.IfGarfieldlived,Arthurwouldprobablynothavemuchp

3、owerinhisadministration.ButGarfieldeventuallydied.Bythistime,itwaswell-establishedthatifthepresidentoftheUnitedStatesdiesinoffice,thevicepresidentbecomesthepresident.SozinSeptember1881zArthurbecamethecountryschiefexecutive.HeservedtheremainingthreeandahalfyearsofGarfieldsterm.Historianssaythat,forth

4、emostpart,Arthurperformedablyandwell.51VAJAMLSAGARFIELDCHESTERAARTHURtawMHMl.mvaw*wwJamesA.GarfieldRepublicancandidateforpresident-ChesterA.ArthurRepublicancandidateforvicepresident.(LibraryofCongress)EarlylifeChesterArthurwasraisedinthenortheasternstatesofVermontandNewYork.Hewasoneofeightchildrenin

5、hisfamily.Theirfatherwasareligiousleaderandanti-slaveryactivist.ArthurattendedcollegeinNewYork,thentaughtschoolandstudiedlaw.Butheneverwantedtostayinasmalltownandlivemodestly.HewantedtoliveinNewYorkCity,workasalawyerandpublicofficial,becomewealthy,andenjoythelifestyleofagentleman.Andthatiswhathedid.

6、Arthuradvancedfromanentry-leveljobinalawoffice,toaleadershippositioninthemilitaryduringtheCivilWar.Afterthefightingstopped,heworkedinagood-payingjobasalawyer,andthenacceptedatoppositioninthegovernment.Forsevenyears,ArthurservedasthecollectoroftheportofNewYork.Hisjobinvolvedsupervising1,300people.The

7、ycollectedlargeamountsofmoneythatcamefromtaxesonimportedgoods.Thejobhadapoliticalelement,too.ItwasunderthecontrolofaU.S.senatorfromNewYork,RoscoeConkling.ConklingwasknownasaRepublicanPartychief,whotradedpoliticalsupportforfinancialandotherbenefits.Arthurwasneverfoundguiltyofacceptingmoneyorgiftsinex

8、changeforthehelpofhisoffice.ButhewascloselylinkedtoConklingspoliticalmachine.WhenRutherfordB.Hayesbecamepresidentin1878zhetriedtofightcorruptioningovernmentjobs.HetargetedConklingandArthur.Electionof1880ArthurspositionasthecollectoroftheportofNewYorkwasoneoftheissuesintheelectionof1880.PresidentHaye

9、shadsuspendedArthurfromthejob.Togetitback,ArthurandConklingsupportedanefforttore-electformerpresidentUlyssesS.Grant.ButanothercandidatewontheRepublicanPartyspresidentialnomination:JamesGarfield.GarfieldandArthurwerenotnaturalallies.AlthoughtheywerebothRepublicans,theyrepresenteddifferentpointsofview

10、.Politicalleadershopedtounitetheparty.So,whenGarfieldwaschosenasthepresidentialcandidate,theyaddedArthurasthevicepresidentialnominee.Theefforttounitethepartyworkedwellenoughtowintheelection.Butrelationsbetweenthetwomenwereuneasy.OneofGarfieldsfirstactswastoappointsomeoneforArthursoldjobinNewYork.The

11、newpresidentwantedsomeonewhowasnotloyaltoConkling.Sohegavethepositiontooneofhissupporters,instead.Inprotest,ConklingresignedfromtheSenate.Buttheneventstookanunexpectedturn.Garfieldwasshotbyamentallyunbalancedmanwhobelievedthepresidentowedhimagovernmentjob.AndChesterA.Arthurbecamepresident.Presidency

12、WhenArthurtookoffice,hehadthepublicimageofbeinganexperiencedpoliticaloperator.MostpeoplebelievedhecaredonlyaboutsupportingtheaimsofasmallpartoftheRepublicanParty.Instead,PresidentArthurtookanindependentpositiononseveralissues.Inoppositiontomostofhisparty,Arthursupportedlegislationtoreformthecountrys

13、civilservice.Itaimedtocleanupcorruptioningovernmentandtookawaysomeoftheabilityofpoliticianstogivegovernmentjobstotheirsupporters.(Tobefair,intheshortterm,theacthelpedArthursparty.)ArthuralsobrokewiththeRepublicanPartyleadershiptosupportareductionintariffs.Andhestronglyarguedtolimitspendingfederalmon

14、eyonprojectsthathelpedonlyafewareasorbusinesses.Instead,hewantedtocuttaxessomorepeoplewouldprofitfromthegovernmentssurplus.Finally,Arthurvetoedananti-immigrationactfromCongress.ThemeasureproposedbanningChineseimmigrantsfor20years.ArthurarguedthattheChinesehadimprovedtheAmericaneconomybyhelpingbuilda

15、railroadacrossthecountry.HealsodidnotwanttohurtpotentialtradewithChina.However,whenCongressofferedtobanChineseimmigrantsforonly10years,Arthuragreed.Inaddition,hisadministrationbannedimmigrantswhowereconsideredpoor,criminal,ormentallyinsane.PerhapsArthursmostmemorableactaspresident,however,wastore-de

16、coratetheWhiteHouse.Hedidnotlikeitsappearanceinside.SoheaskedoneofNewYorkstopdesigners,LouisTiffany,tomakethehomebrighterandmorestylish.Inthenewlyremodeledrooms,Arthurheldparties,withfinefoodanddrink,foreliteguests.HewasknownasTheGentlemanBoss.1.egacyObserversthenandnowsaythatArthurservedwellaspresident.HewasasolidleaderafterthedifficultyearsoftheCivilWarandRecon