美国总统40 比尔 · 克林顿.docx

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1、美国总统40比尔克林顿BillClinton:Survivorplaystopmutemaxvolume00:00-14:05repeatByKellyJeanKelly17December,2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmericasPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutWilliamJeffersonClinton-betterknownasBillClinton.BillClintonwasthefirstpresidentfromtheDemocraticPartytoservetwofulltermssinceFrankli

2、nRoosevelt.Clintontookofficein1993zandwasre-electedin1996.Inmanyways,historiansconsiderhistimeinofficeasuccess.Theeconomyexpanded,andthecountrywaslargelyatpeace.ButClintonhadsomenotablefailures,too.HecouldnotpersuadeCongresstoacceptaplantoreformthenationshealthcaresystem.AndzinhissecondtermztheHouse

3、ofRepresentativestookstepstoremovehimfromoffice.ButtheSenatedecidednottoact.Clintonfinishedhissecondtermwithhighapprovalratings.YetheisalsorememberedforbeingonlythesecondU.S.presidenttobeimpeached.EarlylifeBillClintoncamefromatownwithamemorablename:Hope.Hegrewupthere,andinanothernearbytownintheSouth

4、ernstateofArkansas.Formostofhisearlylife,Billwasraisedbyhisgrandmotherandhismother,bothnurses.Hisfatherhaddiedinacaraccidentbeforehewasborn.PeoplewhoknewBillasayoungmanrememberhimasveryintelligent,charmingwithpeople,andtalentedinmusic.Hismothertoldhimhewouldbepresidentoneday.Sureenough,Clintonpursue

5、dactivitiesthatwouldleadtoapoliticalcareer.HeattendedcollegeatGeorgetownUniversityinWashington,DC,wherehestudiedinternationalaffairs;ledstudentgovernmentgroups;andtookapositionasaclerkintheU.S.Senate.HewentontostudyatOxfordUniversityinEnglandonaprestigiousRhodesScholarship.Thenhegraduatedfromlawscho

6、olatYaleUniversity.There,hemetanotherstudentwhowouldbehiswife,HillaryRodham.Thetwowentontohaveonechildtogether,adaughternamedChelsea.Afterfinishinghisstudies,ClintonreturnedtohishomestateofArkansasandpursuedpoliticaloffice.At32,hebecameoneoftheyoungestgovernorseverinthecountry.Twoyearslater,hewasvot

7、edoutofoffice,andashistorianRussellRileynoteshebecametheyoungestformergovernor.AndthatishowagooddealofClintonspoliticalcareercontinued:inapatternofsuccessesandfailures.Hissuccessesoftencameasaresultofhiscentristpolicies,whichappealedtopeopleofdifferentpoliticalbeliefs.Healsowasaneffectivepublicspeak

8、erand,tomany,aIikablezcharismaticpersonwhoseemedtocaredeeplyaboutothers.But,hiscriticspointedout,Clintonalsoappearedtomakemanydecisionssimplyforpoliticaladvantage.Andhesometimestriedtopleasesomanypeoplethathepleasednoone.Followingaseriesofincreasinglynationalroles-aswellasaseriesofsetbacks-Clintonca

9、mpaignedforpresidentin1992.Atfirst,hedidnotdowellinthecampaign.Hewasyoungandnotwell-known.Healsosufferedfromreportsthathehadrelationshipswithwomenwhowerenothiswife.Butintime,Clintonbeganwinningprimarycontests.ReporterscalledhimtheComebackKid.Heearnedapublicimageasapoliticianwhocouldsurviveproblems.B

10、illClintongreetedsupportersseveraldaysbeforehisinaugurationin1993.Inthegeneralelection,Clintoncompetedagainstthesittingpresident,RepublicanGeorgeH.W.Bush.Thetwomenalsofacedanunusuallystrongthird-partycandidatenamedRossPerot.OnElectionNight,Clintonprevailed.BecauseAmericanshadsplittheirvotesamongthre

11、emajorcandidates,Clintonearnedlessthan50%ofthepopularvote.ButhewonenoughelectoralvotestobecomethenextU.S.president.PresidencyThepeoplewhoworkedonBillClintonspresidentialcampaignadoptedaninformalmotto.Theysaid,Itstheeconomy,stupid.InotherwordszcampaignofficialsbelievedthatmostAmericanscaredprimarilya

12、bouthowapresidentspolicieswouldaffecttheirfinancialconcerns.So,PresidentClintonquicklysetaboutmakingaseriesofeconomicchanges.TheyincludedraisingtaxesonwealthierAmericansandcuttingspendingtohelppoorerAmericans.Inafewyears,theU.S.budgetdeficitwasgone,thefederalgovernmenthadasurplus,andthecountrysfinan

13、cialsituationwasstrongandhealthy-althoughnoteveryoneapprovedofthestepsClintontooktogetthere,orbelievedheshouldgetallthecredit.Earlyinhisfirstterm,Clintonsoughtanadditionalreformhebelievedwouldhelpvotersfinancialconcerns:affordablehealthinsuranceforallAmericans.MostpeopleintheU.S.eitherboughtprivateh

14、ealthinsuranceordidnothaveanyinsurancetohelppayformedicalcosts.ClintonwantedtofindawayfortheU.S.governmenttosupportAmericans,health-relatedexpenses.Heappointedhiswife,firstladyH川aryClinton,toleadahealthcarereformeffort.HillaryClinton,alawyer,hadledasimilarefforttoreformeducationinArkansaswhenherhusb

15、andwasgovernorthere.ButsomelawmakersinCongress-aswellassomevoters-rejectedherefforts.Thereformeffortfailed.Clintonalsostruggledinsomeearlyforeignpolicymoves.HewithdrewAmericantroopsfromSomaliaaftertheirhumanitarianeffortsthereturnedintoabloodymilitarystruggle.Hewasalsocriticizedforfailingtointervene

16、quicklyinthegenocideinRwanda,wherehundredsofthousandsofpeoplewerekilled.1.ater,Clintonwonpraiseforsomeofhisforeignpolicy.HisgovernmenthelpedrestoretheelectedpresidentinHaitiafteracoup.ItalsohelpednegotiatepeaceagreementsinBosniaandIreland.AnditcooperatedwithNATOtointerveneintheKosovoareaandstopattacksonAlbaniansthere.Ingeneral,ClintonbelievedtheU.S.hadanimportantroletoplayinmaintainingpea