美国总统38 罗纳德·威尔逊·里根.docx

美国总统38罗纳德威尔逊哩根RonaldReagan:Communicatorplaystopmutemaxvolume00:00-12:38repeatByKellyJeanKelly03December,2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmerica'sPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutRonaldReagan.Hewaspresidentfortwoterms,andservedfrom1981to1989.BeforethatzhewasthegovernorofCalifornia,workedasanactorandledalaborunion.Aspresident,Reaganiscreditedforchangingthedirectionofthecountry.HetriedtoestablishafeelingofconfidenceintheAmericanpeople.Althoughnoteveryoneprofitedequallyfromhispolicies,thepresidentrarelysufferedinpublicopinionpolls.Reaganwascalledthe"GreatCommunicator"becausehewasabletoconnectwithmanyAmericans,andtospeakpersuasivelyaboutconservativevalues.HeisrememberedwarmlybymanyRepublicanPartypoliticiansandvotersespecially.EarlylifeRonaldReaganisoftenlinkedtoCaliforniaandtheAmericanWest.ButhewasbornandraisedinIllinois,inthecenteroftheUnitedStates.Hisfathersoldshoes,andhismothermostlytookcareofRonaldandhisolderbrother,Neil.TheentirefamilysupportedtheDemocraticParty,especiallyPresidentFranklinRoosevelt.RonaldReaganasaradioannouncerWhiletheboysweregrowingupztheReagansdidnothavemuchmoney,andthefathersufferedfromalcoholism.ButRonaldwasenergeticandtookpartinmanyactivities.Heplayedfootballandbasketball;ranonthetrackteam;swam;actedinplays;ledstudentgroups;wroteforschoolnewspapersandyearbooks;andworkedseveraljobstohelppayforhiseducationandsupporthisparents.HeattendedEurekaCollegeinIllinois,andcompletedhisstudiesin1932.Oneofhisfirstjobsoutofcollegewasasasportsannouncerforaradiostation.Hehadanappealingvoiceandanaturalwayoftalkingthatwasagoodfitforradio.Reaganwasalsogood-looking,andadependableworker.Intime,hewasofferedachancetoactinmoviesandmovedtoCalifornia.Duringhisactingcareer,Reaganmademorethan50films.HealsomarriedactressJaneWymanandhadtwochildrenwithher.Butafterseveralyears,therelationshipended.Theirmarriageendedindivorce.Fouryearslater,Reaganmarriedanotheractress.HernamewasAnneRobbins,butshewascalledNancyDavis.Theyalsohadtwochildren.Ashewasstartinghissecondfamily,Reaganbegananotherpartofhiscareer.HeservedashostofapopulartelevisionseriesabouttheAmericanWest.Healsobecamepresidentofalaborunion,theScreenActorsGuild.Itrepresentedactors,announcers,andothersworkinginthefilmandtelevisionindustry.Duringthattime,Reagan'spoliticalbeliefschanged.Heincreasinglysupportedconservativeideas.Duringpublicappearances,heoftenspokeinsupportofbusinessinterests.HealsoexpressedconcernthatthefederalgovernmentwaslimitingAmericans'freedom.Themessagewaswell-receivedbymanyAmericans.AlthoughtheDemocraticPartywasinpowerformostofthe1960s,anumberofAmericanswerebecomingincreasinglyconservative.Reaganwonnationalrecognitionin1966whenhesuccessfullyranforgovernorofCaliforniaasaRepublican.In1970,votersre-electedhimtotheposition.ButReaganhadsethissightsonthepresidency.HesoughttheRepublicannominationinboth1968and1976.Finally,in1980zhewontheoffice.Bythattime,hehadalreadyhadseveralcareers,aswellasalonglife.Atage69,hewastheoldestpersonuntilthentobeelectedpresident.PresidencyWhenReagantookoffice,hemadeimprovingtheU.S.economyhishighestconcern.Onewaytodothat,hebelieved,wastoreducetheinfluenceofthefederalgovernment.ReagangavearadioaddressattheVoiceofAmerica.HewantedespeciallytocutsomeofthegovernmentprogramsthatformerpresidentLyndonJohnsonhadputinplacetohelppoorpeople.Reaganbelievedthatcuttingtaxes-especiallyonbigbusinesses-wouldhelpstrengthentheeconomy,andintimehelpeveryone.Inaspeechaftertakingoffice,Reagannotedthat,"Governmentisnotthesolutiontoourproblem;governmentistheproblem."Atfirst,theeconomycontinuedtostruggle.ButinafewyearszReagan'spoliciesappearedtowork.Unemploymentdropped,thestockmarketrose,andmanyindustriesgrewquickly.AmericansoftenrememberReagan'spresidencyasatimeofeconomicgrowth.Noteveryonebenefitedequally,however.Reagan'scriticsobservedthathispolicieslargelyhelpedpeoplewhowerealreadywealthy.Thedividebetweenrichandmiddle-classAmericansincreasedduringReagan'spresidency.AndReagandidnotreducegovernmentspendinginallareas.Infact,hesharplyincreasedmilitaryspending.Oneresultwasalargenationaldebt.Anotherresult,Reagan'ssupporterssayzwasaquickerendtotheColdWar.OneofReagan'smajorforeignpolicygoalswastoendthestand-offwiththeSovietUnion.HebelievedthatbuildinguptheU.S.militarywasthebestwaytopressuretheSovietstoreachanagreementonarmscontrol.Reaganalsospokeoutstronglyagainstcommunism.Inhissecondterm,hefamouslyappealedtothenewSovietleader,MikhailGorbachevztoteardowntheBerlinWall.Forsome,thewallwasasignofcommunism.ManyhistorianssayReagan'spoliciesworked.Forsure,ReaganandGorbachevimprovedrelationsbetweentheircountries.Andintime,theSovietleadershippermittedtheBerlinWalltocomedown.AssassinationattemptandIran-ContrascandalInadditiontotheeconomyandtheColdWar,Reaganisoftenrememberedforhislikablepersonality.Hespokeeasilywiththepublic,oftenhadapositivemessageaboutthecountry,andusuallyappearedcheerful.Reaganzpicturedhereenteringthecarthattookhimtothehospital,didnotrealizeatfirstthathewasshot.Thegunmanwasfoundtobetoomentallyunstabletobeheldresponsibleforthecrime.(APPhoto/RonEdmonds)Hewonevenmorepublicapprovalafteramanwithmentalproblemstriedtokillhim.ThebulletsseriouslyinjuredseveralpeoplenearbyzandjustmissedReagan'sheart.Yetzshortlyafterhewasshot,thepresidentjokedwithhiswifeandwithhisdoctors.Opinionpollsshowedthattherecoveredpresidentwasmorepopularthanever.Reagan'spoliticalimagealsosurvivedascandalknownasIran-Contra.InbriefzCongressfoundthatanumberofgovernmentofficialssecretlysoldU.S.weaponstoIranaspartofadealtofreehostages.Then,theofficialsusedsomeofthemoneytohelprebelsinNicaragua.Theactionsviolatedcongressionalrules.TheyalsochallengedReagan'spromisethathehadnottradedweaponsforhostages.Thepresidentapologizedforanyparthehadplayedintheevents.Pollsshowedthat,ingeneral,theAmericanpublicacceptedhisapologyandcontinuedtotrusthim.UnlikemostU.S.presidents,wholosepublicsupportduringtheirterms,Reaganfinishedhistimeinofficeashehadtakenit-withthesupportofmorethanhalfofAmericans.1.egacyReaganretiredtohishomeinCaliforniawithhiswife,Nancy.Forseveralyears,hewroteabouthislifeandhelpedorganizehispresidentiallibrary.Butinafewyears,theformerpresidentannouncedthathesufferedfromAlzheimer's.Thediseaseaffectspeople'sabilitytothink,remember,andexpressthemselves.SoonzReagandisappearedfrompubliclife.Hediedin2004.Butheiswell-rememberedasanablepoliticianwhocouldworkeffectivelywithmanypeople.Heisalsoremembered-bybothsupportersandcritics-forbeingapowerfulvoiceforconservativeideasandtraditionalvalues.Hisinfluenceextendedbeyondhistwoterms.LatergenerationsofleadersandvoterscalledthemselvesReaganRepublicans.mKellyJeanKelly.KellyJeanKellywrotethisstoryforLearningEnglish.GeorgeGrowwastheeditor.WordsinThisStoryconfidence-n.afeelingorbeliefthatyoucandosomethingwellorsucceedatsomethingfit-adj.havingthenecessaryskillsdivorce-n.theendingofamarriagebyalegalprocesshost-n.apersonwhotalkstoguestsonatelevisionorradioshowbenefit-v.tobeusefulorhelpfultostandoff-n.anargumentorcontestinwhichthereisnowinnerpositive-adj.hopefuloroptimisticscandal-n.anoccurrenceinwhichpeopleareshockedandupsetbecauseofbehaviorthatismorallyorlegallywrongchallenge-v.tosayorshowthat(something)maynotbetruezcorrect,orlegal