《美国总统21 切斯特·艾伦·阿瑟.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《美国总统21 切斯特·艾伦·阿瑟.docx（5页珍藏版）》请在第壹文秘上搜索。
1、美国总统21切斯特艾伦阿瑟ChesterA.Arthur:SurprisinglyGoodplaystopmutemaxvolume00:00-10:09repeatByKellyJeanKelly23Julyf2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmericasPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutChesterA.Arthur.(TheletterAisforAlanzhismiddlename.)Arthurtookofficebecausebecauseofanunexpectedevent.HewassworninasVicePre
2、sidentinMarch1881underJamesGarfield.Butonly100daysintoGarfieldsterm,thepresidentwasshot.Hesufferedformonths.ArthurwasnotclosetoGarfield.Thetwomenbelongedtothesameparty,buttheyhaddifferentideasontheissuesoftheday.Theypubliclydisagreedonanumberofsubjects.IfGarfieldlived,Arthurwouldprobablynothavemuchp
3、owerinhisadministration.ButGarfieldeventuallydied.Bythistime,itwaswell-establishedthatifthepresidentoftheUnitedStatesdiesinoffice,thevicepresidentbecomesthepresident.SozinSeptember1881zArthurbecamethecountryschiefexecutive.HeservedtheremainingthreeandahalfyearsofGarfieldsterm.Historianssaythat,forth
4、emostpart,Arthurperformedablyandwell.51VAJAMLSAGARFIELDCHESTERAARTHURtawMHMl.mvaw*wwJamesA.GarfieldRepublicancandidateforpresident-ChesterA.ArthurRepublicancandidateforvicepresident.(LibraryofCongress)EarlylifeChesterArthurwasraisedinthenortheasternstatesofVermontandNewYork.Hewasoneofeightchildrenin
5、hisfamily.Theirfatherwasareligiousleaderandanti-slaveryactivist.ArthurattendedcollegeinNewYork,thentaughtschoolandstudiedlaw.Butheneverwantedtostayinasmalltownandlivemodestly.HewantedtoliveinNewYorkCity,workasalawyerandpublicofficial,becomewealthy,andenjoythelifestyleofagentleman.Andthatiswhathedid.
6、Arthuradvancedfromanentry-leveljobinalawoffice,toaleadershippositioninthemilitaryduringtheCivilWar.Afterthefightingstopped,heworkedinagood-payingjobasalawyer,andthenacceptedatoppositioninthegovernment.Forsevenyears,ArthurservedasthecollectoroftheportofNewYork.Hisjobinvolvedsupervising1,300people.The
7、ycollectedlargeamountsofmoneythatcamefromtaxesonimportedgoods.Thejobhadapoliticalelement,too.ItwasunderthecontrolofaU.S.senatorfromNewYork,RoscoeConkling.ConklingwasknownasaRepublicanPartychief,whotradedpoliticalsupportforfinancialandotherbenefits.Arthurwasneverfoundguiltyofacceptingmoneyorgiftsinex
8、changeforthehelpofhisoffice.ButhewascloselylinkedtoConklingspoliticalmachine.WhenRutherfordB.Hayesbecamepresidentin1878zhetriedtofightcorruptioningovernmentjobs.HetargetedConklingandArthur.Electionof1880ArthurspositionasthecollectoroftheportofNewYorkwasoneoftheissuesintheelectionof1880.PresidentHaye
9、shadsuspendedArthurfromthejob.Togetitback,ArthurandConklingsupportedanefforttore-electformerpresidentUlyssesS.Grant.ButanothercandidatewontheRepublicanPartyspresidentialnomination:JamesGarfield.GarfieldandArthurwerenotnaturalallies.AlthoughtheywerebothRepublicans,theyrepresenteddifferentpointsofview
10、.Politicalleadershopedtounitetheparty.So,whenGarfieldwaschosenasthepresidentialcandidate,theyaddedArthurasthevicepresidentialnominee.Theefforttounitethepartyworkedwellenoughtowintheelection.Butrelationsbetweenthetwomenwereuneasy.OneofGarfieldsfirstactswastoappointsomeoneforArthursoldjobinNewYork.The
11、newpresidentwantedsomeonewhowasnotloyaltoConkling.Sohegavethepositiontooneofhissupporters,instead.Inprotest,ConklingresignedfromtheSenate.Buttheneventstookanunexpectedturn.Garfieldwasshotbyamentallyunbalancedmanwhobelievedthepresidentowedhimagovernmentjob.AndChesterA.Arthurbecamepresident.Presidency
12、WhenArthurtookoffice,hehadthepublicimageofbeinganexperiencedpoliticaloperator.MostpeoplebelievedhecaredonlyaboutsupportingtheaimsofasmallpartoftheRepublicanParty.Instead,PresidentArthurtookanindependentpositiononseveralissues.Inoppositiontomostofhisparty,Arthursupportedlegislationtoreformthecountrys
13、civilservice.Itaimedtocleanupcorruptioningovernmentandtookawaysomeoftheabilityofpoliticianstogivegovernmentjobstotheirsupporters.(Tobefair,intheshortterm,theacthelpedArthursparty.)ArthuralsobrokewiththeRepublicanPartyleadershiptosupportareductionintariffs.Andhestronglyarguedtolimitspendingfederalmon
14、eyonprojectsthathelpedonlyafewareasorbusinesses.Instead,hewantedtocuttaxessomorepeoplewouldprofitfromthegovernmentssurplus.Finally,Arthurvetoedananti-immigrationactfromCongress.ThemeasureproposedbanningChineseimmigrantsfor20years.ArthurarguedthattheChinesehadimprovedtheAmericaneconomybyhelpingbuilda
15、railroadacrossthecountry.HealsodidnotwanttohurtpotentialtradewithChina.However,whenCongressofferedtobanChineseimmigrantsforonly10years,Arthuragreed.Inaddition,hisadministrationbannedimmigrantswhowereconsideredpoor,criminal,ormentallyinsane.PerhapsArthursmostmemorableactaspresident,however,wastore-de
16、coratetheWhiteHouse.Hedidnotlikeitsappearanceinside.SoheaskedoneofNewYorkstopdesigners,LouisTiffany,tomakethehomebrighterandmorestylish.Inthenewlyremodeledrooms,Arthurheldparties,withfinefoodanddrink,foreliteguests.HewasknownasTheGentlemanBoss.1.egacyObserversthenandnowsaythatArthurservedwellaspresident.HewasasolidleaderafterthedifficultyearsoftheCivilWarandRecon
