Gerald Ford: Unelected

杰拉尔德·福特：未经选举的

　　By Kelly Jean Kelly

　　18 November 2023

　　VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.

　　Today we are talking about Gerald Ford. Ford was the 38th president, but he was never elected to the position.

　　Instead, an unusual series of events brought him there.

　　Many historians have described Ford as a good man facing a difficult situation. He tried to fix a troubled economy, end United States' involvement in Vietnam, and show people that the U.S. government could continue to operate after a crisis.

　　Critics from the two main political parties had problems with Ford's efforts. And voters did not elect him president when they had the chance in 1976.

　　But he is remembered in American history for making many voters feel better about their elected officials.

　　Early life

　　When he was born, the future president was given his father's name: Leslie Lynch King.

　　But the boy's father was abusive. His mother separated from him a short time after their son was born. She asked a court for permission to cancel their marriage. Her request was quickly approved.

　　She and the boy moved from the Midwestern state of Nebraska to Michigan. In a few years, the mother married a man named Gerald Ford. The couple had three sons together.

　　The new family was warm and loving. In time, the oldest boy officially took his step-father's name and became Gerald Rudolph Ford, Junior. He was called Jerry for short.

　　Growing up, Jerry Ford was a well-liked person and a good student. He was also a top football player. He was named the most valuable player on his team at the University of Michigan. After finishing college, he was offered work with professional football teams.

　　But Ford wanted to continue his education instead. He accepted coaching positions for the football and boxing teams at Yale University in Connecticut. In time, he attended the law school there.

　　Ford's path to politics was similar to that of other presidents during that period. He worked at a law office in his home state. He fought in World War II. He married.

　　Ford's wife was Elizabeth Bloomer. Her friends called her Betty. She had been a dancer and worked as a fashion model. The Fords went on to have four children.

　　When Gerald Ford was 35 years old, he launched his political career. The Republican Party chose him as its candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

　　Ford was elected to represent his home area of Grand Rapids, Michigan. But unlike many other politicians, he did not move on to the Senate or become governor of a state. Instead, he stayed in the House of Representatives for 25 years.

　　The job of congressman was, in many ways, a good choice for Ford. He was well-liked by many voters and other lawmakers. He could help different groups come to agreement. He took increasingly important positions on political issues, and in time became the top person in his party in the House.

　　Ford was a strong supporter of Republican presidents. In the 1968 election, Ford advocated for Richard Nixon. Ford liked Nixon's plans for the United States, as well as his efforts to improve relations with China and the Soviet Union.

　　Both Ford and Nixon were re-elected to their positions in 1972.

　　But by then, major problems had come to light in Nixon's administration.

　　An unusual path to the White House

　　One problem in the early 1970s related to Nixon's vice president, Spiro Agnew. Agnew had been vice president since 1969. Five years later, officials found evidence that he had accepted money from contractors, both while Maryland's governor and as vice president.

　　In answer, Agnew resigned from the vice presidency.

　　Normally, voters elect a vice president along with a president every four years. But by coincidence, the U.S. Constitution had recently been updated to say what happens if the country needs a vice president unexpectedly. It states that the president has to nominate someone for the position. Then, a majority of lawmakers in Congress must agree.

　　So, in 1973, Nixon nominated Gerald Ford to take Agnew's position. Nixon was not especially close to Ford. But, he knew a majority of lawmakers would likely accept him as vice president.

　　They did.

　　However, Ford did not serve in the position long. In eight months, another unexpected event put him in the Oval Office.

　　Presidency

　　In August 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned from office. He was the first president to do so.

　　As a result, the vice president, Gerald Ford, became president.

　　Ford was sworn-in as president on August 9, 1974. Then he spoke to the nation on television. He said, "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over." He told people, "Our Constitution works. Our great republic is a government of laws and not men."

　　The public had understandably lost a good deal of faith in government officials, and especially in Richard Nixon. Ford wanted to re-establish their trust.

　　But a few weeks after taking office, Ford used his presidential powers to pardon Nixon. The pardon meant that Nixon would never face a criminal trial or, if found guilty, punishment for his actions.

　　Ford said he believed pardoning Nixon would help Americans begin to recover from their painful experience with the former president.

　　But instead, the move angered many people. They believed that Nixon should be held responsible. They also lost some of their trust in Ford.

　　In addition to these political troubles, Ford faced other difficult issues. The American economy was struggling. His administration had to deal with unemployment, inflation and the lasting effects of an energy crisis. The high price of oil imports came at a time when Americans were using more and more gasoline.

　　Ford took steps aimed at improving the economy. But critics said he was not consistent. Some criticized him for increasing government spending and cutting taxes; others criticized him for reducing government spending and raising taxes.

　　Ford also oversaw the withdrawal of Americans from Vietnam. An earlier agreement had brought a ceasefire to groups in South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and Communist forces. The U.S. officially withdrew its combat troops in 1973. But the fighting restarted.

　　Ford asked Congress to approve military and humanitarian aid for the area. But U.S. lawmakers did not approve the full amount. And in time, they cut military aid.

　　In 1975, Communist forces began to take control of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam.

　　Ford ordered all remaining Americans in the country to leave, along with any South Vietnamese who were connected to the United States.

　　He said that, as far as Americans were concerned, the Vietnam War was finished.

　　Americans did not appear to blame Ford for the troubling end of the country's involvement in Vietnam. And some recognized that the country's economic and energy problems had started long before he became president.

　　But, in general, Ford did not have the support of Congress. And many voters did not forgive him for pardoning Nixon.

　　In 1976, Ford officially campaigned for president for the first time.

　　He won his party's nomination in a close race against Ronald Reagan, the former governor of California.

　　But he lost the general election to the Democratic candidate, who said one of his best qualities was that he did not have experience in the federal government.

　　The argument appeared persuasive to many voters, who still did not appear to be enthusiastic about the government. In the 1976 election, nearly half of all people who were legally able to vote chose not to.

　　Ford left the presidency graciously. He said that, because he had not planned to be president, he was thankful for the unexpected opportunity.

　　Legacy

　　Although Ford said he was ready to retire from politics, he continued to be active in public life. He advised others on government affairs, published books, and sat on boards and committees.

　　His wife, Betty Ford, also left a lasting effect on the public.

　　As first lady, she had spoken about her experience with breast cancer.

　　After her husband left the presidency, she also spoke openly about her battle with alcohol and drug abuse.

　　In 1982, Betty Ford co-founded the Betty Ford Center in California to help people get treatment for drug addiction.

　　She announced her husband's death in 2006. Gerald Ford died of heart disease at the age of 93.

　　By that time, most the public had accepted that one of Ford's biggest achievements was to help the country recover after Nixon resigned. President Bill Clinton gave Ford a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

　　And even Jimmy Carter, who beat Ford in the 1976 presidential election, began his inauguration speech by thanking Ford. Carter said, "For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land."

　　I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.

　　Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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　　由凯利·吉恩·凯利撰写

　　2023年11月18日

　　美国之音学习英语节目为您介绍美国总统。

　　今天我们要讲的是杰拉尔德·福特。福特是第38任总统，但他从未通过选举获得这个职位。

　　相反，一系列不寻常的事件使他成为了总统。

　　许多历史学家形容福特是一个面对困境的好人。他试图修复陷入困境的经济，结束美国在越南的介入，并向人们展示美国政府在危机后仍能继续运作。

　　两个主要政党的批评者对福特的努力表示不满。而在1976年有机会时，选民并未选他为总统。

　　但他在美国历史上被记住，因为他让许多选民对他们的选举官员感到更好。

　　早年生活.

　　未来的总统出生时，被赋予了他父亲的名字：莱斯利·林奇·金。

　　但这个男孩的父亲有虐待行为。他的母亲在儿子出生后不久就与他分开。她向法院申请取消他们的婚姻。她的请求很快得到了批准。

　　她和这个男孩从美国中西部的内布拉斯加州搬到了密歇根州。几年后，母亲嫁给了一个名叫杰拉尔德·福特的男人。这对夫妇共同育有三个儿子。

　　这个新的家庭温馨而充满爱。随着时间的推移，最大的男孩正式接受了他继父的名字，成为了杰拉尔德·鲁道夫·福特，小名杰瑞。

　　杰瑞·福特在成长过程中是一个受人喜欢的人，也是一个好学生。他还是一名顶级的足球运动员。他在密歇根大学的队伍中被评为最有价值的球员。大学毕业后，他被职业足球队邀请去工作。

　　但福特想继续他的教育。他接受了康涅狄格州耶鲁大学的足球和拳击队的教练职位。随后，他在那里的法学院学习。

　　福特的政治道路与那个时期的其他总统相似。他在家乡的一家律师事务所工作。他参加了二战。他结婚了。

　　福特的妻子是伊丽莎白·布鲁默。她的朋友们叫她贝蒂。她曾是一名舞者，也曾是一名时装模特。福特夫妇后来有了四个孩子。

　　当杰拉尔德·福特35岁时，他开始了他的政治生涯。共和党选择他作为其在美国众议院的候选人。

　　福特被选为代表他的家乡密歇根州大急流城的众议员。但与许多其他政治家不同，他并没有进入参议院或成为一个州的州长。相反，他在众议院待了25年。

　　在许多方面，国会议员的工作对福特来说是一个好选择。他受到许多选民和其他立法者的喜爱。他能帮助不同的团体达成一致。他在政治问题上的立场越来越重要，最终成为了众议院中他的党派的最高领导人。

　　福特是共和党总统的坚定支持者。在1968年的选举中，福特支持理查德·尼克松。福特喜欢尼克松为美国的计划，以及他改善与中国和苏联关系的努力。

　　福特和尼克松在1972年都被连任。

　　但到那时，尼克松政府的重大问题已经浮出水面。

　　一条不寻常的通往白宫的道路.

　　20世纪70年代初的一个问题与尼克松的副总统斯皮罗·阿格纽有关。阿格纽自1969年以来一直担任副总统。五年后，官员们发现证据表明他在担任马里兰州州长和副总统期间都接受了承包商的钱。

　　作为回应，阿格纽辞去了副总统职务。

　　通常，选民每四年会和总统一起选举一位副总统。但是巧合的是，美国宪法最近刚刚更新，说明了如果国家意外需要一位副总统时该怎么办。它规定总统必须提名某人担任这个职务。然后，国会中的大多数立法者必须同意。

　　因此，在1973年，尼克松提名杰拉尔德·福特接替阿格纽的职务。尼克松并不特别亲近福特。但是，他知道大多数立法者可能会接受他作为副总统。

　　他们确实这样做了。

　　然而，福特在这个职务上并没有服务很长时间。八个月后，另一个意外的事件让他进入了椭圆形办公室。

　　总统任期1974年8月，理查德·尼克松总统辞职。他是第一位这样做的总统。

　　因此，副总统杰拉尔德·福特成为了总统。

　　福特于1974年8月9日宣誓就任总统。然后他在电视上向全国发表讲话。他说：“我的美国同胞们，我们长期的国家噩梦已经结束。”他告诉人们，“我们的宪法是有效的。我们伟大的共和国是一个法治而非人治的政府。”

　　公众理所当然地对政府官员，尤其是理查德·尼克松失去了相当多的信任。福特想要重新建立他们的信任。

　　但是，在上任几周后，福特使用他的总统权力赦免了尼克松。这个赦免意味着尼克松永远不会因为他的行为面临刑事审判，或者，如果被判有罪，受到惩罚。

　　福特表示，他认为赦免尼克松会帮助美国人开始从他们与前总统的痛苦经历中恢复过来。

　　但是，这个举动反而激怒了许多人。他们认为尼克松应该负责。他们也对福特失去了一些信任。

　　除了这些政治问题，福特还面临其他困难的问题。美国经济正在挣扎。他的政府必须处理失业、通货膨胀和能源危机的持久影响。在美国人越来越多地使用汽油的时候，石油进口的高价来了。

　　福特采取了旨在改善经济的措施。但是批评者说他并不一致。一些人批评他增加政府支出和减税；其他人批评他减少政府支出和提高税收。

　　福特还监督了美国人从越南的撤离。早些时候的一项协议已经为南越、北越和共产党力量带来了停火。美国在1973年正式撤出了其战斗部队。但是战斗又重新开始了。

　　福特请求国会批准对该地区的军事和人道援助。但是，美国立法者并未批准全部金额。随着时间的推移，他们削减了军事援助。

　　1975年，共产党力量开始控制南越的首都西贡。

　　福特下令所有剩余在该国的美国人离开，以及任何与美国有关的南越人。

　　他说，就美国人而言，越南战争已经结束。

　　美国人似乎并没有因为国家参与越南战争的困扰结束而责怪福特。有些人认识到，该国的经济和能源问题在他成为总统之前就已经开始了。

　　但是，总的来说，福特并没有得到国会的支持。许多选民并没有原谅他赦免尼克松。

　　1976年，福特首次正式竞选总统。

　　他在与加利福尼亚州前州长罗纳德·里根的紧张竞选中赢得了他的党的提名。

　　但他在大选中输给了民主党候选人，后者说他最好的品质之一就是他没有在联邦政府的经验。

　　这个论点对许多选民来说似乎很有说服力，他们仍然似乎对政府并不热衷。在1976年的选举中，几乎一半的合法投票人选择了不投票。

　　遗产，

　　尽管福特表示他已经准备从政治中退休，但他仍然在公共生活中保持活跃。他就政府事务向他人提供建议，出版书籍，并在各种委员会和团体中担任职务。

　　他的妻子贝蒂·福特，也对公众产生了持久的影响。

　　作为第一夫人，她曾经谈论过她与乳腺癌的经历。

　　在她的丈夫离开总统职务后，她也公开谈论了她与酒精和药物滥用的斗争。

　　1982年，贝蒂·福特在加利福尼亚共同创立了贝蒂·福特中心，以帮助人们接受药物成瘾的治疗。

　　2006年，她宣布了她丈夫的去世。杰拉尔德·福特因心脏病去世，享年93岁。

　　到那时，大多数公众已经接受了福特的最大成就之一是在尼克松辞职后帮助国家恢复。比尔·克林顿总统因其努力向福特颁发了总统自由勋章。

　　甚至连吉米·卡特，他在1976年的总统选举中击败了福特，也在他的就职演讲中首先感谢福特。卡特说：“对我自己和我们的国家，我想感谢我的前任，他为治愈我们的土地所做的一切。”

　　我是凯利·吉恩·凯利。

　　凯利·吉恩·凯利为英语学习写了这个故事。乔治·格罗是编辑。

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　　这个故事中的词汇

　　professional - adj.专业的，职业的

　　advocate - v. 支持，主张

　　contractor - n. 承包商，合同商

　　coincidence - n. 巧合，同时发生

　　responsible - adj. 负责的，导致某事发生的

　　consistent - adj. 始终如一的，一致的

　　enthusiastic - adj. 热情的，充满激情的

　　graciously - adv.有礼貌地，尊重地

　　achievement - n. 成就，通过努力做成的事情：努力的结果