历史上的今天-Today in History 2014-03-30

 March 30th, 1981. Outside a Washington hotel, John Hinckley Jr. shoots President Ronald Reagan and 3 others. Presidential aide Lyn Nofziger: “The President has been shot once in the left chest, the bullet entered from his left side.”

The shooting seriously injures Reagan early in his presidency¹, and permanently² disables his White House Press Secretary James Brady.

1867. Secretary of State William Seward reaches a deal with Russia to buy the territory of Alaska. At the time critics ridicule³ the 7.2-million-dollar purchase as Seward’s folly⁴.

1986. “You’re a ground door flag, you’re a high flying flag, I’m forever in peace when you wake…” Actor James Cagney, known for him movie tough guy roles, dies at his farm in upstate New York at age 86. Cagney won an Oscar for playing Broadway legend George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy.

And 1945. British rock musician Eric Clapton is born in Surrey, England.

Today in History, March 30th. Ross Simpson, the Associated Press.

1 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

2 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

3 ridicule   

v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄

参考例句：

• You mustn't ridicule unfortunate people.你不该嘲笑不幸的人。
• Silly mistakes and queer clothes often arouse ridicule.荒谬的错误和古怪的服装常会引起人们的讪笑。

4 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。