美国总统36 杰拉尔德·福特.docx

美国总统36杰拉尔德福特GeraldFord:Unelectedplaystopmutemaxvolume00:00repeatByKellyJeanKelly19November,2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmerica'sPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutGeraldFord.Fordwasthe38thpresident,buthewasneverelectedtotheposition.GeraldFordofficialpresidentialportraitbyDavidHumeKennerlyInstead,anunusualseriesofeventsbroughthimthere.ManyhistorianshavedescribedFordasagoodmanfacingadifficultsituation.Hetriedtofixatroubledeconomy,endUnitedStates'involvementinVietnam,andshowpeoplethattheU.S.governmentcouldcontinuetooperateafteracrisis.CriticsfromthetwomainpoliticalpartieshadproblemswithFord'sefforts.Andvotersdidnotelecthimpresidentwhentheyhadthechancein1976.ButheisrememberedinAmericanhistoryformakingmanyvotersfeelbetterabouttheirelectedofficials.EarlylifeWhenhewasbornzthefuturepresidentwasgivenhisfather'sname:LeslieLynchKing.Buttheboy'sfatherwasabusive.Hismotherseparatedfromhimashorttimeaftertheirsonwasborn.Sheaskedacourtforpermissiontocanceltheirmarriage.Herrequestwasquicklyapproved.SheandtheboymovedfromtheMidwesternstateofNebraskatoMichigan.Inafewyears,themothermarriedamannamedGeraldFord.Thecouplehadthreesonstogether.Thenewfamilywaswarmandloving.Intime,theoldestboyofficiallytookhisstep-father'snameandbecameGeraldRudolphFordzJunior.HewascalledJerryforshort.GrowingupzJerryFordwasawell-likedpersonandagoodstudent.Hewasalsoatopfootballplayer.HewasnamedthemostvaluableplayeronhisteamattheUniversityofMichigan.Afterfinishingcollege,hewasofferedworkwithprofessionalfootballteams.ButFordwantedtocontinuehiseducationinstead.HeacceptedcoachingpositionsforthefootballandboxingteamsatYaleUniversityinConnecticut.Intime,heattendedthelawschoolthere.Ford'spathtopoliticswassimilartothatofotherpresidentsduringthatperiod.Heworkedatalawofficeinhishomestate.HefoughtinWorldWarII.Hemarried.Ford'swifewasElizabethBloomer.HerfriendscalledherBetty.Shehadbeenadancerandworkedasafashionmodel.TheFordswentontohavefourchildren.WhenGeraldFordwas35yearsold,helaunchedhispoliticalcareer.TheRepublicanPartychosehimasitscandidateforaseatintheU.S.HouseofRepresentatives.FordwaselectedtorepresenthishomeareaofGrandRapids,Michigan.Butunlikemanyotherpoliticians,hedidnotmoveontotheSenateorbecomegovernorofastate.Instead,hestayedintheHouseofRepresentativesfor25years.Thejobofcongressmanwas,inmanyways,agoodchoiceforFord.Hewaswell-likedbymanyvotersandotherlawmakers.Hecouldhelpdifferentgroupscometoagreement.Hetookincreasinglyimportantpositionsonpoliticalissues,andintimebecamethetoppersoninhispartyintheHouse.FordwasastrongsupporterofRepublicanpresidents.Inthe1968election,FordadvocatedforRichardNixon.FordlikedNixon'splansfortheUnitedStates,aswellashiseffortstoimproverelationswithChinaandtheSovietUnion.BothFordandNixonwerere-electedtotheirpositionsin1972.Butbythen,majorproblemshadcometolightinNixon'sadministration.AnunusualpathtotheWhiteHouseOneproblemintheearly1970srelatedtoNixon'svicepresident,SpiroAgnew.Agnewhadbeenvicepresidentsince1969.Fiveyearslater,officialsfoundevidencethathehadacceptedmoneyfromcontractors,bothwhileMaryland'sgovernorandasvicepresident.Inanswer,Agnewresignedfromthevicepresidency.ComediansoftenportrayedFordasclumsy.ButFordwasanaccomplishedathletewhoenjoyedgolfzswimming,andskiing.Hereheisasacongressman,holdinganawardfromSportsIllustratedmagazine.Normally,voterselectavicepresidentalongwithapresidenteveryfouryears.Butbycoincidence,theU.S.Constitutionhadrecentlybeenupdatedtosaywhathappensifthecountryneedsavicepresidentunexpectedly.Itstatesthatthepresidenthastonominatesomeonefortheposition.Then,amajorityoflawmakersinCongressmustagree.So,in1973,NixonnominatedGeraldFordtotakeAgnew'sposition.NixonwasnotespeciallyclosetoFord.But,heknewamajorityOflawmakerswouldlikelyaccepthimasvicepresident.Theydid.However,Forddidnotserveinthepositionlong.Ineightmonths,anotherunexpectedeventputhimintheOvalOffice.PresidencyInAugust1974zPresidentRichardNixonresignedfromoffice.Hewasthefirstpresidenttodoso.Asaresult,thevicepresident,GeraldFordzbecamepresident.Fordwassworn-inaspresidentonAugust9z1974.Thenhespoketothenationontelevision.Hesaid,"MyfellowAmericans,ourlongnationalnightmareisover."Hetoldpeople,"OurConstitutionworks.Ourgreatrepublicisagovernmentoflawsandnotmen."Thepublichadunderstandablylostagooddealoffaithingovernmentofficials,andespeciallyinRichardNixon.Fordwantedtore-establishtheirtrust.Butafewweeksaftertakingoffice,FordusedhispresidentialpowerstopardonNixon.ThepardonmeantthatNixonwouldneverfaceacriminaltrialor,iffoundguilty,punishmentforhisactions.FordsaidhebelievedpardoningNixonwouldhelpAmericansbegintorecoverfromtheirpainfulexperiencewiththeformerpresident.Butinstead,themoveangeredmanypeople.TheybelievedthatNixonshouldbeheldresponsible.TheyalsolostsomeoftheirtrustinFord.Inadditiontothesepoliticaltroubles,Fordfacedotherdifficultissues.TheAmericaneconomywasstruggling.Hisadministrationhadtodealwithunemployment,inflationandthelastingeffectsofanenergycrisis.Thehighp