《美国总统40 比尔 · 克林顿.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《美国总统40 比尔 · 克林顿.docx（6页珍藏版）》请在第壹文秘上搜索。
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
