美国总统21 切斯特·艾伦·阿瑟.docx

美国总统21切斯特艾伦阿瑟ChesterA.Arthur:SurprisinglyGoodplaystopmutemaxvolume00:00-10:09repeatByKellyJeanKelly23Julyf2017VOALearningEnglishpresentsAmerica'sPresidents.TodaywearetalkingaboutChesterA.Arthur.(Theletter"A"isforAlanzhismiddlename.)Arthurtookofficebecausebecauseofanunexpectedevent.HewassworninasVicePresidentinMarch1881underJamesGarfield.Butonly100daysintoGarfield'sterm,thepresidentwasshot.Hesufferedformonths.ArthurwasnotclosetoGarfield.Thetwomenbelongedtothesameparty,buttheyhaddifferentideasontheissuesoftheday.Theypubliclydisagreedonanumberofsubjects.IfGarfieldlived,Arthurwouldprobablynothavemuchpowerinhisadministration.ButGarfieldeventuallydied.Bythistime,itwaswell-establishedthatifthepresidentoftheUnitedStatesdiesinoffice,thevicepresidentbecomesthepresident.SozinSeptember1881zArthurbecamethecountry'schiefexecutive.HeservedtheremainingthreeandahalfyearsofGarfield'sterm.Historianssaythat,forthemostpart,Arthurperformedablyandwell.51VAJAMLSAGARFIELDCHESTERAARTHURtawMHMl.mvaw*wwJamesA.GarfieldRepublicancandidateforpresident-ChesterA.ArthurRepublicancandidateforvicepresident.(LibraryofCongress)EarlylifeChesterArthurwasraisedinthenortheasternstatesofVermontandNewYork.Hewasoneofeightchildreninhisfamily.Theirfatherwasareligiousleaderandanti-slaveryactivist.ArthurattendedcollegeinNewYork,thentaughtschoolandstudiedlaw.Butheneverwantedtostayinasmalltownandlivemodestly.HewantedtoliveinNewYorkCity,workasalawyerandpublicofficial,becomewealthy,andenjoythelifestyleofagentleman.Andthatiswhathedid.Arthuradvancedfromanentry-leveljobinalawoffice,toaleadershippositioninthemilitaryduringtheCivilWar.Afterthefightingstopped,heworkedinagood-payingjobasalawyer,andthenacceptedatoppositioninthegovernment.Forsevenyears,ArthurservedasthecollectoroftheportofNewYork.Hisjobinvolvedsupervising1,300people.Theycollectedlargeamountsofmoneythatcamefromtaxesonimportedgoods.Thejobhadapoliticalelement,too.ItwasunderthecontrolofaU.S.senatorfromNewYork,RoscoeConkling.ConklingwasknownasaRepublicanPartychief,whotradedpoliticalsupportforfinancialandotherbenefits.Arthurwasneverfoundguiltyofacceptingmoneyorgiftsinexchangeforthehelpofhisoffice.ButhewascloselylinkedtoConkling'spoliticalmachine.WhenRutherfordB.Hayesbecamepresidentin1878zhetriedtofightcorruptioningovernmentjobs.HetargetedConklingandArthur.Electionof1880Arthur'spositionasthecollectoroftheportofNewYorkwasoneoftheissuesintheelectionof1880.PresidentHayeshadsuspendedArthurfromthejob.Togetitback,ArthurandConklingsupportedanefforttore-electformerpresidentUlyssesS.Grant.ButanothercandidatewontheRepublicanParty'spresidentialnomination:JamesGarfield.GarfieldandArthurwerenotnaturalallies.AlthoughtheywerebothRepublicans,theyrepresenteddifferentpointsofview.Politicalleadershopedtounitetheparty.So,whenGarfieldwaschosenasthepresidentialcandidate,theyaddedArthurasthevicepresidentialnominee.Theefforttounitethepartyworkedwellenoughtowintheelection.Butrelationsbetweenthetwomenwereuneasy.OneofGarfield'sfirstactswastoappointsomeoneforArthur'soldjobinNewYork.ThenewpresidentwantedsomeonewhowasnotloyaltoConkling.Sohegavethepositiontooneofhissupporters,instead.Inprotest,ConklingresignedfromtheSenate.Buttheneventstookanunexpectedturn.Garfieldwasshotbyamentallyunbalancedmanwhobelievedthepresidentowedhimagovernmentjob.AndChesterA.Arthurbecamepresident.PresidencyWhenArthurtookoffice,hehadthepublicimageofbeinganexperiencedpoliticaloperator.MostpeoplebelievedhecaredonlyaboutsupportingtheaimsofasmallpartoftheRepublicanParty.Instead,PresidentArthurtookanindependentpositiononseveralissues.Inoppositiontomostofhisparty,Arthursupportedlegislationtoreformthecountry'scivilservice.Itaimedtocleanupcorruptioningovernmentandtookawaysomeoftheabilityofpoliticianstogivegovernmentjobstotheirsupporters.(Tobefair,intheshortterm,theacthelpedArthur'sparty.)ArthuralsobrokewiththeRepublicanPartyleadershiptosupportareductionintariffs.Andhestronglyarguedtolimitspendingfederalmoneyonprojectsthathelpedonlyafewareasorbusinesses.Instead,hewantedtocuttaxessomorepeoplewouldprofitfromthegovernment'ssurplus.Finally,Arthurvetoedananti-immigrationactfromCongress.ThemeasureproposedbanningChineseimmigrantsfor20years.ArthurarguedthattheChinesehadimprovedtheAmericaneconomybyhelpingbuildarailroadacrossthecountry.HealsodidnotwanttohurtpotentialtradewithChina.However,whenCongressofferedtobanChineseimmigrantsforonly10years,Arthuragreed.Inaddition,hisadministrationbannedimmigrantswhowereconsideredpoor,criminal,ormentallyinsane.PerhapsArthur'smostmemorableactaspresident,however,wastore-decoratetheWhiteHouse.Hedidnotlikeitsappearanceinside.SoheaskedoneofNewYork'stopdesigners,LouisTiffany,tomakethehomebrighterandmorestylish.Inthenewlyremodeledrooms,Arthurheldparties,withfinefoodanddrink,foreliteguests.Hewasknownas"TheGentlemanBoss."1.egacyObserversthenandnowsaythatArthurservedwellaspresident.HewasasolidleaderafterthedifficultyearsoftheCivilWarandRecon