Woodrow Wilson: Idealist
2023-09-03
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about Woodrow Wilson.
3He served two terms, from 1913 to 1921, and led the United States through the first World War.
4Wilson might have seemed an unlikely war president.
5He was a university professor before he entered politics.
6And, when the conflict began in Europe in 1914, Wilson strongly rejected the idea of the U.S. getting involved.
7He even campaigned for his second term on the slogan "He kept us out of the war."
8But Wilson's idealism eventually made him believe the U.S. must enter the conflict.
9He famously said, "The world must be safe for democracy."
10He spent the last months of his presidency fighting to create a league of nations that would prevent future wars.
11Wilson did not succeed in that effort.
12But the effects of his presidency are still seen today in both the domestic and foreign affairs of the United States.
13Woodrow Wilson was born in the state of Virginia in 1856 and grew up in the South.
14Wilson's father was a Protestant Christian minister who supported the views of the Confederacy during the Civil War.
15Wilson's mother had been born in England but raised in the United States.
16She was reportedly warm and loving, especially to her husband and four children.
17Wilson's early life was marked by poor health and a passion for learning.
18His education included tutoring by Confederate soldiers, classes with his father, a year at Davidson College, a bachelor's degree from the school now called Princeton, one year of law school, and a doctoral degree in history and political science from the University of Johns Hopkins.
19He remains, so far, the only president with a Ph.D.
20Wilson's academic interests were in government, and how it could be most effective.
21Even as a young man, he supported the idea of a strong executive, either a prime minister or a president.
22He wrote a number of books, including a biography of George Washington, and a history of the United States.
23He also taught popular classes at several colleges, including Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania, Wesleyan in Connecticut, and Princeton in New Jersey.
24In time, Wilson became the president of Princeton.
25He made major reforms to the school until some faculty and alumni resisted his efforts.
26Wilson had always been interested in political power.
27The Democratic Party in New Jersey became interested in Wilson when they were looking for a candidate with an honest public image.
28In truth, party officials believed he would be a weak leader whom they could influence.
29Wilson surprised them by winning the seat as New Jersey governor easily, and then rejecting their efforts to control him.
30He went on to pass major reform legislation in New Jersey that reduced corruption and protected the rights of workers.
31His actions drew the attention of Democratic Party leaders seeking a candidate for president in 1912.
32Voters did not overwhelmingly choose Wilson in 1912.
33Although he did well in the Electoral College, he earned only a little more than 40 percent of the popular vote.
34Other votes were mostly divided between two former presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft.
35Yet Wilson quickly asserted authority over Congress and pushed through a number of laws aimed at dramatic reform.
36Historian Kendrick Clements at the University of South Carolina says Wilson had a strongly progressive vision.
37He was interested in "expanding economic opportunity for people at the bottom of society and eliminating special privileges enjoyed by the richest and most powerful members of society."
38One of Wilson's most important acts was to create a new federal agency called the Federal Reserve Board.
39It still regulates American banks, credit, and money supply.
40He also created the Federal Trade Commission to ensure fair business practices, and the Department of Labor to protect workers' rights.
41And he supported laws to reduce working hours for railroad employees, bar child labor, and offer government loans to farmers.
42But even during Wilson's busy lawmaking, the threat of world war demanded his attention.
43Wilson had declared that the U.S. would remain neutral in the growing conflict between the Allied and Central Powers.
44One of his reasons was that people in the U.S. were immigrants from the countries that were at war.
45Wilson did not want the conflict to divide Americans.
46However, he permitted international trade, including with Britain and France.
47As a result, many believed the U.S. was favoring those countries.
48In 1915, a German submarine sank a British ship called the Lusitania and killed more than 100 Americans on board.
49Wilson protested several times to Germany about the sinking.
50He warned that the U.S. would not accept another such aggression.
51But two years later, Germany attacked U.S. commercial ships.
52It also invited Mexico to enter into an alliance against the United States.
53At the beginning of Wilson's second term in office, he asked Congress to declare war on Germany.
54The U.S. entered World War I on the side of the Allied Powers.
55The additional support came at an important time. American soldiers were able to help resist German troops in France.
56In time, Germany asked for an armistice - an agreement to stop fighting.
57Following the war, Wilson had a grand vision for how to gain lasting peace in Europe.
58In a speech known as "Fourteen Points," he proposed that the countries that had won the war not punish Germany.
59Wilson also wanted European colonies to rule themselves, and other areas be given immediate independence.
60Most importantly, Wilson suggested a League of Nations that would guarantee the member countries' independence and safety.
61But few world leaders agreed with his plan completely.
62Even in the U.S., many Republican lawmakers in Congress resisted Wilson's idea for a League of Nations.
63Some strongly objected to any treaty that would limit the country's independence.
64Others did not want the country to be involved in world issues at all.So Wilson began a trip across the U.S. to raise public support for the League of Nations.
65He traveled more than 15,000 kilometers in 22 days and gave 29 speeches.
66Wilson's doctors warned him that the trip was hard on his health.
67But Wilson was firm about pressuring Senate Republicans to adopt the agreement.
68Finally, he collapsed from exhaustion.
69Shortly after, he suffered a major stroke.
70Although he recovered somewhat, he remained partly paralyzed.
71He rarely appeared in public again.Instead, Wilson communicated to Congress through his wife.
72When Republicans changed the treaty to deal with their concerns, Wilson told his supporters to reject it.
73In the end, the U.S. never did join the League of Nations.
74When a new president, Warren Harding, was sworn-in in 1921, Edith and Woodrow Wilson retired to a house in Washington, D.C.
75 Three years later, the former president died quietly there, finally at peace.
76I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about Woodrow Wilson. He served two terms, from 1913 to 1921, and led the United States through the first World War. 3Wilson might have seemed an unlikely war president. He was a university professor before he entered politics. 4And, when the conflict began in Europe in 1914, Wilson strongly rejected the idea of the U.S. getting involved. He even campaigned for his second term on the slogan "He kept us out of the war." 5But Wilson's idealism eventually made him believe the U.S. must enter the conflict. He famously said, "The world must be safe for democracy." 6He spent the last months of his presidency fighting to create a league of nations that would prevent future wars. 7Wilson did not succeed in that effort. But the effects of his presidency are still seen today in both the domestic and foreign affairs of the United States. 8Early life 9Woodrow Wilson was born in the state of Virginia in 1856 and grew up in the South. 10Wilson's father was a Protestant Christian minister who supported the views of the Confederacy during the Civil War. 11Wilson's mother had been born in England but raised in the United States. She was reportedly warm and loving, especially to her husband and four children. 12Wilson's early life was marked by poor health and a passion for learning. His education included tutoring by Confederate soldiers, classes with his father, a year at Davidson College, a bachelor's degree from the school now called Princeton, one year of law school, and a doctoral degree in history and political science from the University of Johns Hopkins. 13He remains, so far, the only president with a Ph.D. 14Wilson's academic interests were in government, and how it could be most effective. Even as a young man, he supported the idea of a strong executive, either a prime minister or a president. 15He wrote a number of books, including a biography of George Washington, and a history of the United States. He also taught popular classes at several colleges, including Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania, Wesleyan in Connecticut, and Princeton in New Jersey. 16In time, Wilson became the president of Princeton. He made major reforms to the school until some faculty and alumni resisted his efforts. 17Wilson had always been interested in political power. The Democratic Party in New Jersey became interested in Wilson when they were looking for a candidate with an honest public image. 18In truth, party officials believed he would be a weak leader whom they could influence. Wilson surprised them by winning the seat as New Jersey governor easily, and then rejecting their efforts to control him. 19He went on to pass major reform legislation in New Jersey that reduced corruption and protected the rights of workers. His actions drew the attention of Democratic Party leaders seeking a candidate for president in 1912. 20Presidency: first term 21Voters did not overwhelmingly choose Wilson in 1912. Although he did well in the Electoral College, he earned only a little more than 40 percent of the popular vote. Other votes were mostly divided between two former presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft. 22Yet Wilson quickly asserted authority over Congress and pushed through a number of laws aimed at dramatic reform. 23Historian Kendrick Clements at the University of South Carolina says Wilson had a strongly progressive vision. 24He was interested in "expanding economic opportunity for people at the bottom of society and eliminating special privileges enjoyed by the richest and most powerful members of society." 25One of Wilson's most important acts was to create a new federal agency called the Federal Reserve Board. It still regulates American banks, credit, and money supply. He also created the Federal Trade Commission to ensure fair business practices, and the Department of Labor to protect workers' rights. 26And he supported laws to reduce working hours for railroad employees, bar child labor, and offer government loans to farmers. 27But even during Wilson's busy lawmaking, the threat of world war demanded his attention. Wilson had declared that the U.S. would remain neutral in the growing conflict between the Allied and Central Powers. 28One of his reasons was that people in the U.S. were immigrants from the countries that were at war. Wilson did not want the conflict to divide Americans. 29However, he permitted international trade, including with Britain and France. As a result, many believed the U.S. was favoring those countries. 30In 1915, a German submarine sank a British ship called the Lusitania and killed more than 100 Americans on board. 31Wilson protested several times to Germany about the sinking. He warned that the U.S. would not accept another such aggression. But two years later, Germany attacked U.S. commercial ships. It also invited Mexico to enter into an alliance against the United States. 32At the beginning of Wilson's second term in office, he asked Congress to declare war on Germany. 33Presidency: second term 34The U.S. entered World War I on the side of the Allied Powers. The additional support came at an important time. American soldiers were able to help resist German troops in France. 35In time, Germany asked for an armistice - an agreement to stop fighting. 36Following the war, Wilson had a grand vision for how to gain lasting peace in Europe. In a speech known as "Fourteen Points," he proposed that the countries that had won the war not punish Germany. 37Wilson also wanted European colonies to rule themselves, and other areas be given immediate independence. 38Most importantly, Wilson suggested a League of Nations that would guarantee the member countries' independence and safety. 39But few world leaders agreed with his plan completely. 40Even in the U.S., many Republican lawmakers in Congress resisted Wilson's idea for a League of Nations. Some strongly objected to any treaty that would limit the country's independence. Others did not want the country to be involved in world issues at all.So Wilson began a trip across the U.S. to raise public support for the League of Nations. He traveled more than 15,000 kilometers in 22 days and gave 29 speeches. 41Wilson's doctors warned him that the trip was hard on his health. But Wilson was firm about pressuring Senate Republicans to adopt the agreement. 42Finally, he collapsed from exhaustion. Shortly after, he suffered a major stroke. Although he recovered somewhat, he remained partly paralyzed. He rarely appeared in public again.Instead, Wilson communicated to Congress through his wife. When Republicans changed the treaty to deal with their concerns, Wilson told his supporters to reject it. 43In the end, the U.S. never did join the League of Nations. 44When a new president, Warren Harding, was sworn-in in 1921, Edith and Woodrow Wilson retired to a house in Washington, D.C. Three years later, the former president died quietly there, finally at peace. 45I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 46Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 47___________________________________________________________ 48Words in This Story 49assert - v. to demand that other people accept or respect (something) 50opportunity - n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done 51eliminate - v. to remove; to get rid of 52privilege - n. a right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others 53regulate - v. to make rules or laws that control (something) 54commercial - adj. related to or used in the buying and selling of goods and services 55armistice - n. an agreement to stop fighting a war 56exhaustion - n. the state of being extremely tired 57paralyzed - adj. unable to move or feel all or part of the body