William Taft: Heavy
2023-08-27
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about William Howard Taft, who took office in 1909.
3In some ways, the story of Taft's presidency is also a story about Theodore Roosevelt's presidency.
4Roosevelt had been president for the eight years before Taft.
5The two men were friends; Roosevelt was even a mentor to Taft.
6But the two men were very different.
7Roosevelt was energetic, both in his physical abilities and in his use of executive power.
8His vision for the country was progressive.
9In contrast, Taft was a more conservative, heavy man who fell asleep in meetings, and who did not make decisions quickly.
10In fact, Americans often remember Taft because of his size.
11His weight changed frequently, but as president Taft usually weighed about 135 kilograms.
12One popular story claims that Taft got stuck in a White House bathtub. This story is not true.
13However, it is true that Taft had a special bathtub made for him. Several men could sit comfortably in it.
14As president, Taft did continue some of Roosevelt's reforms, but in a more orderly way.
15He also took some actions that contradicted Roosevelt's wishes.
16In four years, the two men had gone from political allies to competitors for the White House.
17Taft was another president who was born in the state of Ohio.
18He grew up in the city of Cincinnati, along with five siblings.
19Taft's father was a well-known lawyer, public official and diplomat.
20He was an advisor to President Ulysses Grant.
21His mother was an intelligent, independent woman who also worked for the public good.
22The Tafts had high expectations for their son.
23He became an excellent student, who went on to study at Yale and then the University of Cincinnati Law School.
24Taft sought a career path that he hoped would lead him one day to the U.S. Supreme Court.
25He worked as a lawyer, and then as a judge in Ohio.
26Along the way, he met Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt helped Taft advance his career as a judge.
27But one person was not happy about the career move: Taft's wife.
28Taft had married an intelligent, independent woman named Helen Herron, known as Nellie.
29She had always wanted to be first lady, and she urged her husband to follow a path toward the White House.
30In time, Nellie Taft had her wish.
31In 1900 President William McKinley offered Taft a position in the Philippines.
32The islands had come under the control of the United States after the Spanish-American War.
33McKinley wanted Taft to help prepare the Philippines to be ruled by civilians, instead of by soldiers.
34Taft worried he would not like the job; however, he knew that it was a good chance to build a political career.
35Taft was right about that.
36But he was wrong about disliking the job.
37He enjoyed it so much that he turned down two offers to return to the U.S. and serve on the Supreme Court.
38In the Philippines, Taft successfully established courts, schools, a transportation network, and a health care system.
39Taft did have pejorative views about the people who lived there - he did not think they were yet capable of governing themselves.
40But he performed his job as governor general effectively.
41Taft might have even stayed in the Philippines if it were not for his friend Theodore Roosevelt.
42In 1901, Roosevelt became president.
43He asked Taft to become his secretary of war.
44Taft agreed, partly so he could continue to supervise the Philippines.
45But the job also put him in a position to become president himself.
46William Taft did not really want to be president.
47But Theodore Roosevelt and Nellie Taft wanted him to be.
48During the election of 1908, Taft permitted Roosevelt to do most of the campaigning for him.
49He spent a lot of time golfing.
50Taft was the first president to be strongly linked - so to speak - to the sport of golfing.
51(Another word for golf course is "links.")
52Yet voters approved of Taft. They likely hoped he would continue the reforms of Roosevelt. He won the election easily.
53Once in the White House, however, Taft did several things that reversed Roosevelt's positions.
54First, Taft signed a bill that did not reduce tariffs as much as many progressive activists wanted.
55Then, Taft removed one of Roosevelt's friends from a goverment position.
56Taft believed he was correct in making the move, but Roosevelt and many other Republicans were furious.
57Some historians say they did not give Taft enough credit for the many reforms he did make.
58His government pursued a large number of anti-trust suits against big business.
59It also advanced two Constitutional amendments - one to establish a federal income tax, and another to permit voters to elect senators directly.
60As the end of Taft's term in the White House came near, the Republican Party was divided.
61At their 1912 convention, a majority of delegates nominated Taft for president again.
62But a number left the meeting in anger.
63They created a new group, called the Progressive Party, and nominated as their candidate Theodore Roosevelt.
64Taft and Roosevelt, along with the Democratic Party candidate, fought a bitter campaign during 1912.
65Of the three, Taft came in last.
66Roosevelt came in second.
67The divided Republicans had given control of the White House to the Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson.
68Happily for him, Taft's story does not end there.
69Taft taught at Yale University Law School for a while.
70Then, when a Republican took the White House again, President Warren Harding appointed Taft as chief justice of the Supreme Court.
71He is the only person to lead both the executive and judicial branches of the U.S. government.
72Taft was clear about which one he favored: He was much more comfortable as a justice than he was as president.
73One journalist at the time described Chief Justice Taft as "a smiling Buddha, placid, wise, gentle, sweet."
74He even lost weight.
75I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about William Howard Taft, who took office in 1909. 3In some ways, the story of Taft's presidency is also a story about Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. Roosevelt had been president for the eight years before Taft. The two men were friends; Roosevelt was even a mentor to Taft. 4But the two men were very different. Roosevelt was energetic, both in his physical abilities and in his use of executive power. His vision for the country was progressive. 5In contrast, Taft was a more conservative, heavy man who fell asleep in meetings, and who did not make decisions quickly. 6In fact, Americans often remember Taft because of his size. His weight changed frequently, but as president Taft usually weighed about 135 kilograms. 7One popular story claims that Taft got stuck in a White House bathtub. This story is not true. However, it is true that Taft had a special bathtub made for him. Several men could sit comfortably in it. 8As president, Taft did continue some of Roosevelt's reforms, but in a more orderly way. He also took some actions that contradicted Roosevelt's wishes. 9In four years, the two men had gone from political allies to competitors for the White House. 10Early life 11Taft was another president who was born in the state of Ohio. He grew up in the city of Cincinnati, along with five siblings. 12Taft's father was a well-known lawyer, public official and diplomat. He was an advisor to President Ulysses Grant. 13His mother was an intelligent, independent woman who also worked for the public good. 14The Tafts had high expectations for their son. He became an excellent student, who went on to study at Yale and then the University of Cincinnati Law School. 15Taft sought a career path that he hoped would lead him one day to the U.S. Supreme Court. He worked as a lawyer, and then as a judge in Ohio. Along the way, he met Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt helped Taft advance his career as a judge. 16But one person was not happy about the career move: Taft's wife. 17Taft had married an intelligent, independent woman named Helen Herron, known as Nellie. She had always wanted to be first lady, and she urged her husband to follow a path toward the White House. 18In time, Nellie Taft had her wish. In 1900 President William McKinley offered Taft a position in the Philippines. The islands had come under the control of the United States after the Spanish-American War. 19McKinley wanted Taft to help prepare the Philippines to be ruled by civilians, instead of by soldiers. Taft worried he would not like the job; however, he knew that it was a good chance to build a political career. 20Taft was right about that. But he was wrong about disliking the job. He enjoyed it so much that he turned down two offers to return to the U.S. and serve on the Supreme Court. 21In the Philippines, Taft successfully established courts, schools, a transportation network, and a health care system. 22Taft did have pejorative views about the people who lived there - he did not think they were yet capable of governing themselves. But he performed his job as governor general effectively. 23Taft might have even stayed in the Philippines if it were not for his friend Theodore Roosevelt. In 1901, Roosevelt became president. He asked Taft to become his secretary of war. 24Taft agreed, partly so he could continue to supervise the Philippines. But the job also put him in a position to become president himself. 25Presidency 26William Taft did not really want to be president. But Theodore Roosevelt and Nellie Taft wanted him to be. 27During the election of 1908, Taft permitted Roosevelt to do most of the campaigning for him. He spent a lot of time golfing. Taft was the first president to be strongly linked - so to speak - to the sport of golfing. (Another word for golf course is "links.") 28Yet voters approved of Taft. They likely hoped he would continue the reforms of Roosevelt. He won the election easily. 29Once in the White House, however, Taft did several things that reversed Roosevelt's positions. 30First, Taft signed a bill that did not reduce tariffs as much as many progressive activists wanted. 31Then, Taft removed one of Roosevelt's friends from a goverment position. Taft believed he was correct in making the move, but Roosevelt and many other Republicans were furious. 32Some historians say they did not give Taft enough credit for the many reforms he did make. His government pursued a large number of anti-trust suits against big business. 33It also advanced two Constitutional amendments - one to establish a federal income tax, and another to permit voters to elect senators directly. 34As the end of Taft's term in the White House came near, the Republican Party was divided. At their 1912 convention, a majority of delegates nominated Taft for president again. But a number left the meeting in anger. They created a new group, called the Progressive Party, and nominated as their candidate Theodore Roosevelt. 35Taft and Roosevelt, along with the Democratic Party candidate, fought a bitter campaign during 1912. Of the three, Taft came in last. 36Roosevelt came in second. 37The divided Republicans had given control of the White House to the Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson. 38Legacy 39Happily for him, Taft's story does not end there. 40Taft taught at Yale University Law School for a while. Then, when a Republican took the White House again, President Warren Harding appointed Taft as chief justice of the Supreme Court. He is the only person to lead both the executive and judicial branches of the U.S. government. 41Taft was clear about which one he favored: He was much more comfortable as a justice than he was as president. 42One journalist at the time described Chief Justice Taft as "a smiling Buddha, placid, wise, gentle, sweet." 43He even lost weight. 44I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 45__________________________________________________________ 46__________________________________________________________ 47Words in This Story 48mentor - n. someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person 49contrast - n. the act of comparing people or things to show the differences between them 50contradicted - v. to not agree with (something) in a way that shows or suggests that it is false or wrong 51advance - v. to help the progress of something 52network - n. a system of lines, wires, etc., that are connected to each other 53pejorative - adj. insulting to someone or something 54reversed - v. to cause (something, such as a process) to stop or return to an earlier state 55tariffs - n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country 56progressive - n. a person who favors new or modern ideas especially in politics and education 57comfortable - adj. allowing you to be relaxed : causing no worries, difficulty, or uncertainty