VOA慢速英语2009-IN THE NEWS - President Obama Marks 100 Days in

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. This week we look at President Obama's first one hundred days in office.

The tradition of marking the first one hundred days of a new president began with Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was sworn-in as president seventy-six years ago during the Great Depression -- the worst economic crisis in the country's history.
　
Franklin Delano Roosevelt

In his first one hundred days in office, President Roosevelt worked with Congress to pass a series of measures. They were designed to re-build trust in the American economy, and help the unemployed¹ and those in danger of losing their homes and farms.

Since then, the first three months of a presidency² have been compared to Roosevelt's. Presidents are judged on their ability to quickly demonstrate leadership and win congressional approval of their proposals.

The media and political observers have spent a lot of time examining Mister Obama's first one hundred days in office. But many of them admit the one hundred day mark is a meaningless number. Others say it is too soon to be judging the work of the president.

On Wednesday, Mister Obama marked his one hundredth day by speaking at a school in the state of Missouri. He said he is proud of the successes, but that more has to be done.
　
President Obama speaking at the White House Thursday about efforts to save Chrysler

BARACK OBAMA: "Now, after one hundred days, I am pleased with the progress we have made. But I am not satisfied. I am confident in the future. But I am not content with the present – not when there are workers who are still out of jobs, families who still cannot pay their bills."

Mister Obama has dealt with many issues since becoming the nation's first African-American president on January twentieth. He has faced economic problems and worked to strengthen relations with other countries. Congress passed his seven hundred eighty-seven billion dollar economic recovery plan. The president has also taken steps to rescue the struggling financial and automotive industries.

Since taking office, Mister Obama has ordered the closure of the American detention³ center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He set a time limit for withdrawal⁴ of most American troops from Iraq, while increasing the number of troops in Afghanistan.

Mister Obama also made efforts to improve America's international image. He received criticism from the Republican Party for offering talks with Iran and Cuba. Republicans also criticized him for shaking the hand of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The party opposes his plan to cut taxes for middle class Americans and use of government spending to increase economic activity. Party leaders warn that will result in a huge increase in the national debt.

Yet studies show Mister Obama's public approval rating is above sixty percent. The president also increased his support in the Senate this week. Long-time Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter announced he is leaving the Republicans to join the president's Democratic Party.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. I'm Steve Ember.

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 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。

3 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

4 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。