美国总统36 杰拉尔德·福特.docx

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1、美国总统36杰拉尔德福特GeraldFord:Unelectedplaystopmutemaxvolume00:00repeatByKellyJeanKelly19November,2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmericasPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutGeraldFord.Fordwasthe38thpresident,buthewasneverelectedtotheposition.GeraldFordofficialpresidentialportraitbyDavidHumeKennerlyInstead,anun

2、usualseriesofeventsbroughthimthere.ManyhistorianshavedescribedFordasagoodmanfacingadifficultsituation.Hetriedtofixatroubledeconomy,endUnitedStatesinvolvementinVietnam,andshowpeoplethattheU.S.governmentcouldcontinuetooperateafteracrisis.CriticsfromthetwomainpoliticalpartieshadproblemswithFordsefforts

3、.Andvotersdidnotelecthimpresidentwhentheyhadthechancein1976.ButheisrememberedinAmericanhistoryformakingmanyvotersfeelbetterabouttheirelectedofficials.EarlylifeWhenhewasbornzthefuturepresidentwasgivenhisfathersname:LeslieLynchKing.Buttheboysfatherwasabusive.Hismotherseparatedfromhimashorttimeafterthe

4、irsonwasborn.Sheaskedacourtforpermissiontocanceltheirmarriage.Herrequestwasquicklyapproved.SheandtheboymovedfromtheMidwesternstateofNebraskatoMichigan.Inafewyears,themothermarriedamannamedGeraldFord.Thecouplehadthreesonstogether.Thenewfamilywaswarmandloving.Intime,theoldestboyofficiallytookhisstep-f

5、athersnameandbecameGeraldRudolphFordzJunior.HewascalledJerryforshort.GrowingupzJerryFordwasawell-likedpersonandagoodstudent.Hewasalsoatopfootballplayer.HewasnamedthemostvaluableplayeronhisteamattheUniversityofMichigan.Afterfinishingcollege,hewasofferedworkwithprofessionalfootballteams.ButFordwantedt

6、ocontinuehiseducationinstead.HeacceptedcoachingpositionsforthefootballandboxingteamsatYaleUniversityinConnecticut.Intime,heattendedthelawschoolthere.Fordspathtopoliticswassimilartothatofotherpresidentsduringthatperiod.Heworkedatalawofficeinhishomestate.HefoughtinWorldWarII.Hemarried.FordswifewasEliz

7、abethBloomer.HerfriendscalledherBetty.Shehadbeenadancerandworkedasafashionmodel.TheFordswentontohavefourchildren.WhenGeraldFordwas35yearsold,helaunchedhispoliticalcareer.TheRepublicanPartychosehimasitscandidateforaseatintheU.S.HouseofRepresentatives.FordwaselectedtorepresenthishomeareaofGrandRapids,

8、Michigan.Butunlikemanyotherpoliticians,hedidnotmoveontotheSenateorbecomegovernorofastate.Instead,hestayedintheHouseofRepresentativesfor25years.Thejobofcongressmanwas,inmanyways,agoodchoiceforFord.Hewaswell-likedbymanyvotersandotherlawmakers.Hecouldhelpdifferentgroupscometoagreement.Hetookincreasingl

9、yimportantpositionsonpoliticalissues,andintimebecamethetoppersoninhispartyintheHouse.FordwasastrongsupporterofRepublicanpresidents.Inthe1968election,FordadvocatedforRichardNixon.FordlikedNixonsplansfortheUnitedStates,aswellashiseffortstoimproverelationswithChinaandtheSovietUnion.BothFordandNixonwere

10、re-electedtotheirpositionsin1972.Butbythen,majorproblemshadcometolightinNixonsadministration.AnunusualpathtotheWhiteHouseOneproblemintheearly1970srelatedtoNixonsvicepresident,SpiroAgnew.Agnewhadbeenvicepresidentsince1969.Fiveyearslater,officialsfoundevidencethathehadacceptedmoneyfromcontractors,both

11、whileMarylandsgovernorandasvicepresident.Inanswer,Agnewresignedfromthevicepresidency.ComediansoftenportrayedFordasclumsy.ButFordwasanaccomplishedathletewhoenjoyedgolfzswimming,andskiing.Hereheisasacongressman,holdinganawardfromSportsIllustratedmagazine.Normally,voterselectavicepresidentalongwithapre

12、sidenteveryfouryears.Butbycoincidence,theU.S.Constitutionhadrecentlybeenupdatedtosaywhathappensifthecountryneedsavicepresidentunexpectedly.Itstatesthatthepresidenthastonominatesomeonefortheposition.Then,amajorityoflawmakersinCongressmustagree.So,in1973,NixonnominatedGeraldFordtotakeAgnewsposition.Ni

13、xonwasnotespeciallyclosetoFord.But,heknewamajorityOflawmakerswouldlikelyaccepthimasvicepresident.Theydid.However,Forddidnotserveinthepositionlong.Ineightmonths,anotherunexpectedeventputhimintheOvalOffice.PresidencyInAugust1974zPresidentRichardNixonresignedfromoffice.Hewasthefirstpresidenttodoso.Asar

14、esult,thevicepresident,GeraldFordzbecamepresident.Fordwassworn-inaspresidentonAugust9z1974.Thenhespoketothenationontelevision.Hesaid,MyfellowAmericans,ourlongnationalnightmareisover.Hetoldpeople,OurConstitutionworks.Ourgreatrepublicisagovernmentoflawsandnotmen.Thepublichadunderstandablylostagooddeal

15、offaithingovernmentofficials,andespeciallyinRichardNixon.Fordwantedtore-establishtheirtrust.Butafewweeksaftertakingoffice,FordusedhispresidentialpowerstopardonNixon.ThepardonmeantthatNixonwouldneverfaceacriminaltrialor,iffoundguilty,punishmentforhisactions.FordsaidhebelievedpardoningNixonwouldhelpAm

16、ericansbegintorecoverfromtheirpainfulexperiencewiththeformerpresident.Butinstead,themoveangeredmanypeople.TheybelievedthatNixonshouldbeheldresponsible.TheyalsolostsomeoftheirtrustinFord.Inadditiontothesepoliticaltroubles,Fordfacedotherdifficultissues.TheAmericaneconomywasstruggling.Hisadministrationhadtodealwithunemployment,inflationandthelastingeffectsofanenergycrisis.Thehighp