2006年VOA标准英语-President Bush Pays Tribute to Gerald Ford

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
27 December 2006

President Bush says former U.S. President Gerald Ford¹ will be remembered as a man of great integrity, who led the nation at a time when it needed healing. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports President Ford died late Tuesday at his California home at the age of 93.

 
President George Bush pauses while delivering a statement in Crawford, Texas about death of former President Gerald Ford, 27 Dec 2006
President Bush says the American people will always be grateful to Gerald Ford, who assumed the nation's highest office after Richard Nixon was forced to resign in 1974.

"He assumed power at a period of great division and turmoil," he said. "For a nation that needed healing and for an office that needed a calm and steady hand, Gerald Ford came along when we needed him most."

President Bush learned of Mr. Ford's passing late Tuesday. Early the next morning, he went on national television from his Texas ranch² to pay his respects.

"During his time in office, the American people came to know President Ford as a man of complete integrity, who led our country with common sense and kind instincts," he said.

 
Gerald R. Ford (file)
Gerald Ford was the only American to assume the presidency³ who had never been elected to the office or to the vice⁴ presidency. A long-time member of the House of Representatives, where he served as Republican leader, Mr. Ford was picked by President Nixon in 1973 to replace Vice President Spiro Agnew, who resigned amid scandal.

In 1974, the Watergate debacle brought an end to Richard Nixon's presidency and the once-obscure congressman⁵ from Michigan, was sworn into office.

He said from the start his goal was to help the country heal its wounds and move on. In order to do so, Mr. Ford pardoned his predecessor⁶ - a move that may have destroyed his chances of winning the 1976 presidential election against Democrat⁷ Jimmy Carter.

 
Gerald Ford (1988 file photo)
President Bush called him a man of rectitude, whose life was a blessing⁸. He said America's 38th president will always have a special place in the nation's memory

"Americans will always admire Gerald Ford's unflinching performance of duty and the honorable conduct of his administration," he said.

Mr. Bush was first informed of President Ford's passing late Tuesday by his chief-of-staff Josh Bolten. He immediately called former First Lady Betty Ford to express his personal condolences, and is expected to lead the nation in mourning at President Ford's funeral.

1 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

2 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

3 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。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

6 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

7 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

8 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。