VOA慢速英语2015 戴维营举办的阿富汗会议或达里程碑协议

AS IT IS 2015-03-24 Landmark¹ to Close as Camp David Hosts Afghan Meeting 戴维营举办的阿富汗会议或达里程碑协议

Since the 1950s, American presidents have been going to Camp David in the mountains of Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. They have traveled there to rest or hold meetings away from the noise of the city and the news media.

But President Barack Obama rarely goes to the camp. Now, at least one business is closing in nearby Thurmont, Maryland.

Over the years, world leaders have gathered at Camp David to meet with the U.S. president or for summits. The mountain hideaway is where differences between leaders or countries were worked out. For example, Camp David is where the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt was signed in 1979, during the presidency² of Jimmy Carter.

The summits and presidential holidays put the sleepy town of Thurmont on the world map. But President Obama has used Camp David less often than the presidents before him. He rarely holds summits there and does not visit often.

So now Thurmont’s Cozy³ Inn is preparing to close. Since 1929, the Cozy Inn has provided food and drink to generations of White House aides, international delegations⁴ and reporters.

Gerald Freeze is the owner of the landmark hotel.

"When you have the large summits of course you've got your name all over the paper and that attracted people to the area and you got more notoriety. With this president not being here and not having any large summits has certainly had some effects."

John Kinnaird is the mayor of Thurmont, Maryland. He grew up watching presidents drive up and down this road. He saw every president from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush. But he says he never saw President Obama.

"Other presidents seemed to spend a lot of time at Camp David -- a lot of weekends. It's a great place, a great family place. They have all kinds of activities of up there. President Obama for some reason doesn't take advantage of it."

For pleasure, President Obama often travels to Hawaii or Chicago, Illinois. When Mr. Obama has come to Camp David, he usually travels by helicopter. He does not drive through the town.

This has led to a loss of business for places like the Cozy Inn. The inn was home to the bar where White House Press Secretaries, reporters and diplomats⁵ could go after work. Even Winston Churchill once had a beer and a hamburger there.

On Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry met with Afghan leaders at Camp David. Gerald Freeze says he did not know about the meetings. Mr. Freeze is sorry he will not be able to serve officials or reporters who visit Camp David.

"Unfortunately, we won't be open. I hope they accomplish a lot. They have so much to get done to get everything in the world straightened out."

For years, the Cozy Inn provided a gathering⁶ place for officials and reporters to talk and have a meal. Its closing marks the end of an era. Now, the indirect role the Cozy Inn played in the search for world peace has come to an end as well.

Words in This Story

summit - n. a meeting or series of meetings between the leaders of two or more governments

landmark – n. an object or structure on land that is easy to see and recognize

era – n. a period of time that is tied to a person or event

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

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 cozy   

adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的

参考例句：

• I like blankets because they are cozy.我喜欢毛毯，因为他们是舒适的。
• We spent a cozy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。

4 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

5 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。