美国总统26 威廉·霍华德·塔夫脱.docx

美国总统26威廉霍华德塔夫脱WilliamTaft:HeavyByVOA27August,2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmerica'sPresidents.TodayWearetalkingaboutWilliamHowardTaft,whotookofficein1909.Roosevelt(left)andTaftz1909Insomeways,thestoryofTaft'spresidencyisalsoastoryaboutTheodoreRoosevelt'spresidency.RoosevelthadbeenpresidentfortheeightyearsbeforeTaft.Thetwomenwerefriends;RooseveltwasevenamentortoTaft.Butthetwomenwereverydifferent.Rooseveltwasenergetic,bothinhisphysicalabilitiesandinhisuseofexecutivepower.Hisvisionforthecountrywasprogressive.Incontrast,Taftwasamoreconservative,heavymanwhofellasleepinmeetings,andwhodidnotmakedecisionsquickly.InfactzAmericansoftenrememberTaftbecauseofhissize.Hisweightchangedfrequently,butaspresidentTaftusuallyweighedabout135kilograms.OnepopularstoryclaimsthatTaftgotstuckinaWhiteHousebathtub.Thisstoryisnottrue.However,itistruethatTafthadaspecialbathtubmadeforhim.Severalmencouldsitcomfortablyinit.Aspresident,TaftdidcontinuesomeofRoosevelt'sreforms,butinamoreorderlyway.HealsotooksomeactionsthatcontradictedRoosevelt'swishes.Infouryears,thetwomenhadgonefrompoliticalalliestocompetitorsfortheWhiteHouse.EarlylifeTaftwasanotherpresidentwhowasborninthestateofOhio.HegrewupinthecityofCincinnati,alongwithfivesiblings.Taft'sfatherwasawell-knownlawyer,publicofficialanddiplomat.HewasanadvisortoPresidentUlyssesGrant.Hismotherwasanintelligent,independentwomanwhoalsoworkedforthepublicgood.TheTaftshadhighexpectationsfortheirson.Hebecameanexcellentstudent,whowentontostudyatYaleandthentheUniversityofCincinnatiLawSchool.TaftsoughtacareerpaththathehopedwouldleadhimonedaytotheU.S.SupremeCourt.Heworkedasalawyer,andthenasajudgeinOhio.Alongtheway,hemetTheodoreRoosevelt.RoosevelthelpedTaftadvancehiscareerasajudge.Butonepersonwasnothappyaboutthecareermove:Taft'swife.Tafthadmarriedanintelligent,independentwomannamedHelenHerronzknownasNellie.Shehadalwayswantedtobefirstlady,andsheurgedherhusbandtofollowapathtowardtheWhiteHouse.Intime,NellieTafthadherwish.In1900PresidentWilliamMcKinleyofferedTaftapositioninthePhilippines.TheislandshadcomeunderthecontroloftheUnitedStatesaftertheSpanish-AmericanWar.McKinleywantedTafttohelppreparethePhilippinestoberuledbycivilians,insteadofbysoldiers.Taftworriedhewouldnotlikethejob;however,heknewthatitwasagoodchancetobuildapoliticalcareer.Taftwasrightaboutthat.Buthewaswrongaboutdislikingthejob.HeenjoyeditsomuchthatheturneddowntwoofferstoreturntotheU.S.andserveontheSupremeCourt.InthePhilippines,Taftsuccessfullyestablishedcourts,schools,atransportationnetwork,andahealthcaresystem.Taftdidhavepejorativeviewsaboutthepeoplewholivedthere-hedidnotthinktheywereyetcapableofgoverningthemselves.Butheperformedhisjobasgovernorgeneraleffectively.TaftmighthaveevenstayedinthePhilippinesifitwerenotforhisfriendTheodoreRoosevelt.In1901zRooseveltbecamepresident.HeaskedTafttobecomehissecretaryofwar.Taftagreed,partlysohecouldcontinuetosupervisethePhilippines.Butthejobalsoputhiminapositiontobecomepresidenthimself.PresidencyWilliamTaftdidnotreallywanttobepresident.ButTheodoreRooseveltandNellieTaftwantedhimtobe.Duringtheelectionof1908zTaftpermittedRoosevelttodomostofthecampaigningforhim.Hespentalotoftimegolfing.Taftwasthefirstpresidenttobestronglylinked-sotospeak-tothesportofgolfing.(Anotherwordforgolfcourseis'links.")YetvotersapprovedofTaft.TheylikelyhopedhewouldcontinuethereformsofRoosevelt.Hewontheelectioneasily.OnceintheWhiteHouse,however,TaftdidseveralthingsthatreversedRoosevelt'spositions.First,Taftsignedabillthatdidnotreducetariffsasmuchasmanyprogressiveactivistswanted.Then,TaftremovedoneofRoosevelt'sfriendsfromagovermentposition.Taftbelievedhewascorrectinmakingthemove,butRooseveltandmanyotherRepublicanswerefurious.SomehistorianssaytheydidnotgiveTaftenoughcreditforthemanyreformshedidmake.Hisgovernmentpursuedalargenumberofanti-trustsuitsagainstbigbusiness.ItalsoadvancedtwoConstitutionalamendments-onetoestablishafederalincometax,andanothertopermitvoterstoelectsenatorsdirectly.AstheendofTaft'stermintheWhiteHousecamenear,theRepublicanPartywasdivided.Attheir1912convention,amajorityofdelegatesnominatedTaftforpresidentagain.Butanumberleftthemeetinginanger.Theycreatedanewgroup,calledtheProgressiveParty,andnominatedastheircandidateTheodoreRoosevelt.TaftandRooseveltzalongwiththeDemocraticPartycandidate,foughtabittercampaignduring1912.Ofthethree,Taftcameinlast.Rooseveltcameinsecond.ThedividedRepublicanshadgivencontroloftheWhiteHousetotheDemocraticcandidateWoodrowWilson.1.egacyHappilyforhim,Taft'sstorydoesnotendthere.TafttaughtatYaleUniversityLawSchoolforawhile.Then,whenaRepublicantooktheWhiteHouseagainzPresidentWarrenHardingappointedTaftaschiefjusticeoftheSupremeCourt.HeistheonlypersontoleadboththeexecutiveandjudicialbranchesoftheU.S.government.Taftwasclearaboutwhichonehefavored:Hewasmuchmorecomfortableasajusticethanhewasaspresident.OnejournalistatthetimedescribedChiefJusticeTaftas"asmilingBuddhazplacid,wise,gentle,sweet."Heevenlostweight.mK