VOA标准英语2010年-New Appreciation for America's Forgott

America's 30th president has been largely ignored by historians.

Calvin Coolidge was sworn into office in August 1923, after the death of President Warren Harding. Elected in his own right the following year, Coolidge left office in 1929.

Now, his legacy¹ is being revisited in a new book that suggests Coolidge's world view can be applied² to modern politics and life.

'Silent Cal'

Calvin Coolidge is not a well-known president.

What most Americans know of him is limited to his nickname - Silent Cal. He was reserved, introspective and often seemed uncomfortable at social events. But this man of few words got a lot accomplished³ as president.

He reduced taxes, lowered federal spending, signed a bill granting full citizenship⁴ to native Americans and limited immigration. He also made himself available to lawmakers and reporters -  a novelty in the early 20th century, says Jim Douglas, government of Vermont.

"Coolidge had breakfast meetings with the members of Congress," he says. "He had a press conference on average every four days."

Core values

Douglas is one of the 21 politicians, journalists, activists⁵ and thinkers who contributed their thoughts to "Why Coolidge Matters," a collection of essays about the 30th president.

In his essay, the governor highlights how Coolidge reflected the character and values of Vermont, where he was born and raised.  Calvin Coolidge inspires him.

"There are really two ways: one is his commitment to fiscal⁶ integrity, to reducing debt, to balancing the budget, to lowering taxes, something we did in Vermont in our legislative⁷ session this year," says Douglas. "Secondly⁸, I take from the Coolidge legacy the values of civility, integrity, honesty, straightforwardness⁹, of communicating in a transparent¹⁰ way with the people he served and on a frequent basis."

 
Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation/Library of Congress
President Calvin Coolidge was a supporter of the women's rights movement.
 

Other contributors to "Why Coolidge Matters" include former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis, presidential scholar Peter Schramm and U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Public servant

Coolidge's great grandson, Christopher Coolidge Jeter, is pleased his great grandfather's legacy is being revisited.

"I think it's great that folks are taking a second look at Coolidge. I think sometimes he gets a short shrift in the historians' perspective because there were not any great crises or wars that occurred during his tenure," says Jeter. "But I think, when we reexamine his character, values and strong moral beliefs, that there is a lot that can be learned and applied to today's world."

Jeter believes Coolidge was a true public servant. He held more public offices than any other president and supported many reforms  including women's suffrage¹¹ and tax cuts. He was a fine writer who not only wrote his own speeches, but also an autobiography¹². On a personal level, Jeter says he learned the importance of being financially rational from his great grandfather.

"Coolidge had a great quote of, 'There is no dignity quite so impressive as living within your means.' I tried to achieve that myself, and hopefully that's something I think the nation can take a cue from as well."

1 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

2 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

3 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

4 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

7 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

8 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

9 straightforwardness   

n.坦白，率直

参考例句：

• They were impressed by his sincerity and straightforwardness. 他的诚恳直率给他们留下了很深的印象。
• What some people take for rudeness is really straightforwardness. 一些人所认为的无礼实际上却是直率的表现。

10 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

11 suffrage   

n.投票，选举权，参政权

参考例句：

• The question of woman suffrage sets them at variance.妇女参政的问题使他们发生争执。
• The voters gave their suffrage to him.投票人都投票选他。

12 autobiography   

n.自传

参考例句：

• He published his autobiography last autumn.他去年秋天出版了自己的自传。
• His life story is recounted in two fascinating volumes of autobiography.这两卷引人入胜的自传小说详述了他的生平。