U.S. President George Bush delivered his farewell address to the nation Thursday night. Mr. Bush used the occasion to reflect on the past and look toward the future.
美国总统布什星期四晚上向全国发表告别演说，利用这个机会回顾过去，展望未来。
This has been a week of "lasts" for President Bush - the last press conference, the last cabinet meeting, and the last broadcast speech to the nation.
对布什总统来说，这个星期有许多的“最后一次”-- 最后一次记者会，最后一次内阁会议，还有最后一次向全国发表广播讲话。
"Tonight, with a thankful heart, I have asked for a final opportunity to share some thoughts on the journey we have traveled together and the future of our nation," he said.
布什说：“今晚，怀着一颗感恩的心，我要用这最后一次机会，和大家一起回顾我们走过的路程，并展望我们国家的未来。”
He reflected on his first national address from the White House, a speech to a country reeling in shock, grief and anger from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
布什谈到他在白宫向全国发表的第一次讲话，那是2001年9-11恐怖袭击之后向一个沉浸在震惊、悲伤和愤怒中的国家发表的讲话。
"As the years passed, many Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11," he said. "But I never did."
布什说：“随着岁月的流逝，许多美国人得以基本恢复到9-11之前的生活。但是我一直没能这样做。”
Once again, as he has often done during his final days in office, the president defended his record and was nostalgic. "There are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I have always acted with the best interests of our country in mind," he said.
和他在总统任期最后这些日子里经常做的一样，布什再次为自己的记录辩护，并表现出对白宫岁月的留恋。他说：“如果有机会，我会以不同的方式处理一些问题。但是，我一直是把国家的最高利益放在心里的。”
Most recent past presidents, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, chose to deliver a farewell address from the Oval Office. But President Bush opted to speak from the East Room of the White House Thursday night, in front of an audience that included members of the military, firefighters and educators whose stories he said touched him during his eight years in office.
"In citizens like these, we see the best of our country - resilient and hopeful, caring and strong," he said.
With only five days left until Inauguration Day, Mr. Bush reflected on the peaceful transfer of power that will occur when Barack Obama takes the oath of office and becomes the first African American President of the United States.
现在距新总统宣誓就职还有5天，布什谈到，当奥巴马宣誓就任为美国第一位黑人总统时，人们将看到权力的和平交接。
"Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose story reflects the enduring promise of our land. This is a moment of hope and pride for our nation," he said.
他说：“站在国会山台阶上的这个人，他的故事折射出我们国家持久的希望。这将是我们国家一个充满希望和骄傲的时刻。”
In recent days, the president has said he is ready to return to Texas and life as a private citizen. But aides say they detect a bit of wistfulness in his voice.
最近，布什总统表示，他已经准备好，回到德克萨斯州，开始一个普通公民的生活。不过，他的助手们说，他们察觉到布什的语气中有一丝失落感。
Ken Walsh, the veteran White House correspondent for U.S. News and World Report magazine, says there is certain poignancy when a president prepares to leave the spotlight.
肯·沃尔什是“美国新闻与世界报导”杂志驻白宫资深记者。他认为，当一位总统准备淡出公众的视线时，总会对一些问题难以释怀。
"And there is always a sense of not only 'what I could have done as president," but also, a sense of 'am I being given the credit for what I did? Am I being treated too negatively,'" he said.
沃尔什说：“除了‘作为总统，我还可能怎样做’之外，还会有一种感觉，就是‘我的努力都得到承认了吗？人们对我是不是负面评价太多了？’”
The speech was the president's last public event until next Tuesday - when he welcomes Barack Obama to the White House and the two travel to Capitol Hill for the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.
星期四的讲话是下星期二之前布什总统最后一次公开活动。下星期二，布什总统将欢迎奥巴马入主白宫，然后两人一起到国会山，参加美国第44任总统的就职仪式。 |