美国总统40 比尔 · 克林顿.docx

美国总统40比尔克林顿BillClinton:Survivorplaystopmutemaxvolume00:00-14:05repeatByKellyJeanKelly17December,2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmerica'sPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutWilliamJeffersonClinton-betterknownasBillClinton.BillClintonwasthefirstpresidentfromtheDemocraticPartytoservetwofulltermssinceFranklinRoosevelt.Clintontookofficein1993zandwasre-electedin1996.Inmanyways,historiansconsiderhistimeinofficeasuccess.Theeconomyexpanded,andthecountrywaslargelyatpeace.ButClintonhadsomenotablefailures,too.HecouldnotpersuadeCongresstoacceptaplantoreformthenation'shealthcaresystem.AndzinhissecondtermztheHouseofRepresentativestookstepstoremovehimfromoffice.ButtheSenatedecidednottoact.Clintonfinishedhissecondtermwithhighapprovalratings.YetheisalsorememberedforbeingonlythesecondU.S.presidenttobeimpeached.EarlylifeBillClintoncamefromatownwithamemorablename:Hope.Hegrewupthere,andinanothernearbytownintheSouthernstateofArkansas.Formostofhisearlylife,Billwasraisedbyhisgrandmotherandhismother,bothnurses.Hisfatherhaddiedinacaraccidentbeforehewasborn.PeoplewhoknewBillasayoungmanrememberhimasveryintelligent,charmingwithpeople,andtalentedinmusic.Hismothertoldhimhewouldbepresidentoneday.Sureenough,Clintonpursuedactivitiesthatwouldleadtoapoliticalcareer.HeattendedcollegeatGeorgetownUniversityinWashington,DC,wherehestudiedinternationalaffairs;ledstudentgovernmentgroups;andtookapositionasaclerkintheU.S.Senate.HewentontostudyatOxfordUniversityinEnglandonaprestigiousRhodesScholarship.ThenhegraduatedfromlawschoolatYaleUniversity.There,hemetanotherstudentwhowouldbehiswife,HillaryRodham.Thetwowentontohaveonechildtogether,adaughternamedChelsea.Afterfinishinghisstudies,ClintonreturnedtohishomestateofArkansasandpursuedpoliticaloffice.At32,hebecameoneoftheyoungestgovernorseverinthecountry.Twoyearslater,hewasvotedoutofoffice,andashistorianRussellRileynoteshebecametheyoungestformergovernor.AndthatishowagooddealofClinton'spoliticalcareercontinued:inapatternofsuccessesandfailures.Hissuccessesoftencameasaresultofhiscentristpolicies,whichappealedtopeopleofdifferentpoliticalbeliefs.Healsowasaneffectivepublicspeakerand,tomany,aIikablezcharismaticpersonwhoseemedtocaredeeplyaboutothers.But,hiscriticspointedout,Clintonalsoappearedtomakemanydecisionssimplyforpoliticaladvantage.Andhesometimestriedtopleasesomanypeoplethathepleasednoone.Followingaseriesofincreasinglynationalroles-aswellasaseriesofsetbacks-Clintoncampaignedforpresidentin1992.Atfirst,hedidnotdowellinthecampaign.Hewasyoungandnotwell-known.Healsosufferedfromreportsthathehadrelationshipswithwomenwhowerenothiswife.Butintime,Clintonbeganwinningprimarycontests.Reporterscalledhimthe"ComebackKid."Heearnedapublicimageasapoliticianwhocouldsurviveproblems.BillClintongreetedsupportersseveraldaysbeforehisinaugurationin1993.Inthegeneralelection,Clintoncompetedagainstthesittingpresident,RepublicanGeorgeH.W.Bush.Thetwomenalsofacedanunusuallystrongthird-partycandidatenamedRossPerot.OnElectionNight,Clintonprevailed.BecauseAmericanshadsplittheirvotesamongthreemajorcandidates,Clintonearnedlessthan50%ofthepopularvote.ButhewonenoughelectoralvotestobecomethenextU.S.president.PresidencyThepeoplewhoworkedonBillClinton'spresidentialcampaignadoptedaninformalmotto.Theysaid,"It'stheeconomy,stupid."InotherwordszcampaignofficialsbelievedthatmostAmericanscaredprimarilyabouthowapresident'spolicieswouldaffecttheirfinancialconcerns.So,PresidentClintonquicklysetaboutmakingaseriesofeconomicchanges.TheyincludedraisingtaxesonwealthierAmericansandcuttingspendingtohelppoorerAmericans.Inafewyears,theU.S.budgetdeficitwasgone,thefederalgovernmenthadasurplus,andthecountry'sfinancialsituationwasstrongandhealthy-althoughnoteveryoneapprovedofthestepsClintontooktogetthere,orbelievedheshouldgetallthecredit.Earlyinhisfirstterm,Clintonsoughtanadditionalreformhebelievedwouldhelpvoters'financialconcerns:affordablehealthinsuranceforallAmericans.MostpeopleintheU.S.eitherboughtprivatehealthinsuranceordidnothaveanyinsurancetohelppayformedicalcosts.ClintonwantedtofindawayfortheU.S.governmenttosupportAmericans,health-relatedexpenses.Heappointedhiswife,firstladyH川aryClinton,toleadahealthcarereformeffort.HillaryClinton,alawyer,hadledasimilarefforttoreformeducationinArkansaswhenherhusbandwasgovernorthere.ButsomelawmakersinCongress-aswellassomevoters-rejectedherefforts.Thereformeffortfailed.Clintonalsostruggledinsomeearlyforeignpolicymoves.HewithdrewAmericantroopsfromSomaliaaftertheirhumanitarianeffortsthereturnedintoabloodymilitarystruggle.HewasalsocriticizedforfailingtointervenequicklyinthegenocideinRwanda,wherehundredsofthousandsofpeoplewerekilled.1.ater,Clintonwonpraiseforsomeofhisforeignpolicy.HisgovernmenthelpedrestoretheelectedpresidentinHaitiafteracoup.ItalsohelpednegotiatepeaceagreementsinBosniaandIreland.AnditcooperatedwithNATOtointerveneintheKosovoareaandstopattacksonAlbaniansthere.Ingeneral,ClintonbelievedtheU.S.hadanimportantroletoplayinmaintainingpea