美国总统经典英语演讲

关键词： 物性 过程 演讲 总统

美国总统经典英语演讲（共6篇）

篇1：美国总统经典英语演讲

WASHINGTON— In this week’s address, President Obama expressed the gratitude of the entire nation to the brave men and women who have served in the war in Iraq, and welcomed our troops home as we mark the official end to the war.This historic achievement would not be possible without the skill and dedication of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.They prove every day that when we come together, there is nothing we cannot do.Now it’s time to follow their example, put aside partisanship, and rebuild our economy so that every American who wants to work can find a job, and everyone has the opportunity to make it if they try.Remarks of President Barack Obama

Weekly Address The White House

Saturday, December 17, 2011

This week marked an historic moment in the life of our country and our military.For nearly nine years, our nation has been at war in Iraq.More than 1.5 million Americans have served there with honor, skill, and bravery.Tens of thousands have been wounded.Military families have sacrificed greatly – none more so than the families of those nearly 4,500 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice.All of them – our troops, veterans, and their families – will always have the thanks of a grateful nation.On Thursday, the colors our Armed Forces fought under in Iraq were formally cased in a ceremony in Baghdad before beginning their journey back home.Our troops are now preparing to make their final march across the border and out of the country.Iraq’s future will be in the hands of its own people.Our war there will be over.All of our troops will be out of Iraq.And this holiday season, all of us can finally say: welcome home.This is an extraordinary achievement – one made possible by the hard work and sacrifice of the men and women who had the courage to serve.And there’s a lesson to learn from that – a lesson about our character as a nation.See, there’s a reason our military is the most respected institution in America.They don’t see themselves or each other as Democrats first or Republicans first.They see themselves as Americans first.For all our differences and disagreements, they remind us that we are all a part of something bigger;that we are one nation and one people.And for all our challenges, they remind us that there is nothing we can’t do when we stick together.They’re the finest our nation has to offer.Many will remain in the military and go on to the next mission.Others will take off the uniform and become veterans.But their commitment to service doesn’t end when they take off the uniform – in fact, I’m confident the story of their service to America is just beginning.After years of rebuilding Iraq, it is time to enlist our veterans and all our people in the work of rebuilding America.Folks like my grandfather came back from World War II to form the backbone of the largest middle class in history.And today’s generation of veterans – the 9/11 Generation of veterans – is armed with the skills, discipline, and leadership to attack the defining challenge of our time: rebuilding an economy where hard work pays off, where responsibility is rewarded, where anyone can make it if they try.Now it is up to us to serve these brave men and women as well as they serve us.Every day, they meet their responsibilities to their families and their country.Now it’s time to meet ours – especially those of us who you sent to serve in Washington.This cannot be a country where division and discord stand in the way of our progress.This is a moment where we must come together to ensure that every American has the chance to work for a decent living, own their own home, send their kids to college, and secure a decent retirement.This is a moment for us to build a country that lives up to the ideals that so many of our bravest Americans have fought and even died for.That is our highest obligation as citizens.That is the welcome home that our troops deserve.Thank you.

篇2：美国总统经典英语演讲

Weekly Address

The White House

December 3 , 2011

篇3：美国总统经典英语演讲

2008年,美国第一位非裔总统巴拉克·奥巴马当选,他所做的获胜演讲引起广泛关注。该篇演讲稿成功运用演讲修辞的三诉诸手段,在现场听众以及全世界范围内引起强烈反响。

1 演讲修辞及三诉诸理论

三诉诸包括理性诉诸,情感诉诸和品格诉诸[3]。具体来说,“理性诉诸(logos)”指演讲中的逻辑架构。演讲者的思维必须理性,要利用恰切的例证和说理向听众清楚地传达主题观点。现代英语中的逻辑(logic)一词便是来源于此;“情感诉诸(pathos)”是指演讲需以情动人。从心理学的角度来看,人们在非常时刻往往情感占理性的上风[4]。演讲者在分析听众心理的基础上,适当运用评论性语言或修辞格,就能够唤起预期的情绪反应,比如同情、惋惜、愤怒或希望等;“品格诉诸(ethos)”是指演讲者的可信度。只有表现出自己对演讲主题有充分的了解与准备、对听众怀有诚挚之心,并展示出个人的博学与才能,演讲者才能获得听众的信任并拉近距离,从而顺利地传递某种信息或理念。品格诉诸(ethos)一词的变体“ethics”在现代仍然表示“优秀品质或道德规范”。

综上所述,只要演讲者认识到三诉诸在演讲中的重要作用,并利用恰当的语言表达方式将其实现,就能够加强演讲的效果,以“理、情、信”服人[5]。以下用实例加以说明。

2 奥巴马获胜演讲[6]的诉诸实例分析

2008年11月4日晚(美国时间),在新一轮美国大选结果揭晓后,第56届总统奥巴马在家乡芝加哥发表了获胜演讲。在芝加哥格兰特公园,面对24万支持者,奥巴马的演讲极富激情与感染力,令许多现场和电视机前的听众深受感动、热泪盈眶。

该篇演讲词可以分成两部分,前半部分主要是致谢和立足现实,后半部分是回顾历史和展望未来。在赢得大选的胜利时刻,新总统的喜悦溢于言表,他对自己忠实的支持者和竞选团队表达谢意。然而,在美国深陷金融风暴、步履维艰之时,又必须团结竞选对手,共同应对危机,同时鼓励全国人民战胜困难、走出泥淖。为传递以上信息,这篇胜选演讲稿充分利用了理性诉诸,情感诉诸和品格诉诸的修辞手段,成功地将国内外形势、个人观点、听众情感和语言结合起来,达到了预期的效果。

2.1 理性诉诸(logos)

为了说理和申明主题,演讲词要以例证支持,包括引述名言和博引事实等,即利用“理性诉诸”的手段。

就这篇演讲稿而言,面对新产生的总统,许多期待变革的民众都怀着激动兴奋的心情,然而此时更需要理性的引导。在演讲中,奥巴马多次使用平行结构以及排比、比喻等修辞格,列举美国面临的诸多困难和挑战,意图提醒美国民众前途依然艰难,需在心理上和行动上做好准备。例如:“There's newenergy to harness,new jobs to be created,new schools to build and threats to meet,alliances to repair.”

然而,一味强调困难可能使听众产生悲观情绪。所以,随即奥巴马又巧妙地借用一位特殊的选民——106岁的黑人老妇人Ann Nixon Cooper的人生经历,带领听众回顾了美国一个多世纪以来不断遭受挫折又不断战胜坎坷的历程,以理性的分析赋予美国人民信心和勇气。

例如:“When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land,she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal,new jobs,a new sense of common purpose.Yes we can.When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world,she was there to witness a generation rise to greatnessand a democracy was saved.Yes we can!”

上例先后提及了30年代大萧条以及轰炸珍珠港等历史事件。在每一段叙述之后,都用选举口号“Yes we can.”加以强调,使听众对于直面困难、共度时艰的主题更加信服。

2.2 情感诉诸(pathos)

公共演讲的主要目的之一是在较广范围内带动起某种情绪,从而起到宣传和鼓动的作用。以情动人、以情感人的语言手段即是“情感诉诸”。奥巴马胜选演讲几乎通篇都洋溢着浓厚的感情色彩,大致可以分为三种情感:

1)对支持者的感激之情。

奥巴马从一个不被看好的候选人成为最终的获胜者,过程曲折,其间来自竞选团队和基层民众的支持功不可没。奥巴马通过回溯竞选的过程表达他对支持者的体恤和感激,从而引动起听众更强烈的拥护和爱戴之情。例如:“It drew strengthfrom the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers.”

2)对竞选对手的友爱之情。

通过向对手麦凯恩表达尊敬和作出肯定,奥巴马表现出胜利者的谦虚姿态;又通过强调两党的团结来博得对方的认可和支持。例如:“Senator Mc Cain fought long and hard in this campaign.And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves.He has endured sacrifices for America that mosof us cannot begin to imagine.”

3)对民众的鼓励。

在美国面临困境的情况下,最重要的还是激起民众的斗志、勇气和希望,鼓励他们互相支持迎战明天的困难和挑战。演讲词中的许多内容都让听众热血澎湃,泪流满面。例如:“…to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamenta truth,that,out of many,we are one;that while we breathe,we hope.…where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't,we will respond with that timelesscreed that sums up the spirit of a people:Yes,we can!”

2.3 品格诉诸(ethos)

取得信任是演讲获得成功的必要条件,而听众的信任来源于对演讲者人格、地位以及能力的认可。利用语言手段去赢得信任、拉近与听众的距离即为“品格诉诸”。

纵观美国历任总统竞选演说,候选人无不试图向选民表现自己为人正直善良,遵守传统道德观念,贴近民众,同时具备改善社会现状的能力和措施。奥巴马也不例外,他从三方面出发取得听众的信任。

1)展示优秀公民形象。

奥巴马通过提及妻子、女儿和家人,展现出自己好丈夫、好父亲、热爱家庭的形象,这一点在选举过程中也赢得了选民们的认可。例如:“I would not be standing here tonight withou the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years,the rock of our family,the love of my life,the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.Sasha and Malia,I love you both more than you can imagine.And you have earned the new puppy that's comingwith us to the new White House.”

2)展示亲民形象。

新总统放低姿态,悉心听取来自群众的声音,敞开胸怀邀请人民的帮助和支持,其亲民的形象深得人心。例如:“…tothose Americans whose support I have yet to earn,I may not have won your vote tonight,but I hear your voices.I need your help.And I will be your president,too.”

除此以外,有选择地使用人称代词也使奥巴马的演讲更具亲和力。根据统计(见表1),在这篇演讲词中,第一人称复数共使用86次,第一人称单数“I,my,me”出现31次;第二人称“you”、“your”被使用16次;第三人称单数和复数各出现6次和19次。第三人称复数的多次使用把现场听众以外的更广阔人群包括在受众之中,旨在扩大影响力;使用第二人称“你,你们”来称呼听众,使大家感觉总统在和自己对话而备感亲切。由于英语中第二人称单数与复数同音,这种面对面的感觉就更加强烈;同时,“我们”的使用大大超过了代表总统本人的“我”。这营造出一个友好的气氛,使一个团结人民、引领大家走出困境的领导人形象鲜明地展现出来。

表1该演讲词中人称代词使用情况统计

3)展示领导能力。

作为第一位具有非洲血统的美国总统,奥巴马面临着来自多方的否定和质疑。所以,演讲稿的字里行间都体现出新总统的领袖风范。例如:“…to all those who have wondered ifAmerica's beacon still burns as bright:Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth,but from the enduring power of our ideals:democracy,liberty,opportunity and un-yielding hope.“”

2.4 小结

以上列举的三诉诸例句并无排他性。这是因为,说理中往往包含感人的话语;动情之处亦常常不失亲切;赢得信任的同时也要做到主题明确、感情真挚。所以,正如亚里士多德所指出,要把三种诉诸手段糅合进整个演讲过程中。

3 结束语

奥巴马总统的胜选演讲丝丝入扣、感人至深、令人信服,是成功运用理性诉诸、情感诉诸和品格诉诸的经典范例。三诉诸修辞手段能够有效地加强演讲效果,顺利传递信息,在英文演讲稿的创作中值得广为借鉴。

当然,文字的诉诸手段也需要演讲者的精彩演绎才能真正发挥作用。巴拉克·奥巴马堪称天生的演说家,有着“令政客妒嫉的嗓音[7]”和俊朗的外形,其演说富有节奏感,语气恰到好处,调动现场气氛能力很强,每每能使得群情激昂[8]。所以,演讲者仍须对讲稿有充分的理解和掌握,并不断提高公共演说技巧,才能造就成功的演讲。

参考文献

[1]徐鹏.修辞和语用[M].上海:外教社,2007.

[2]胡曙中.美国新修辞学研究[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,1999.

[3]Judith A.McManus,How to Write and Deliver Effective Speech-es[M].上海:上海译文出版社,2005.

[4]何晓勤.演讲-劝说-诉诸-语篇[J].外语与外语教学,2004(11):7-9.

[5]佟晓梅.演讲修辞中理性与情感的诉诸[J].渤海大学学报,2008(4):149-152.

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篇4：美国总统大选演讲的传播技巧研究

摘 要 本文以美国电视媒体直播奥巴马胜选演讲为例,分析美国总统大选候选人如何将电视媒介特性与传播技巧结合起来,从而达到政治传播的目的。美国总统大选候选人将个人风格与电视特性对接,在演讲中运用隐喻制造煽情效果,在模糊化双重言说与画面视觉冲击作用下塑造想象中的共同体,并将观众需要和电视符码化结合以获得最大限度的支持。而电视直播过程是在美国总统候选人与电视媒体的合谋之下完成的,因为电视媒体会对符合自己认知结构美国总统候选人的传播具有偏向性,它塑造了一个梦幻般完美的、理想型的美国总统候选人的形象。

关键词宣传 隐喻 双重言说 修辞

一、美国总统大选与电视媒介

美国历来重视媒介的政治传播功能,其中无论是美国总统大选候选人还是已就职的美国总统,都善于利用媒介来进行政治宣传、引导公众舆论。罗斯福就任美国总统时期就善用广播媒体,他在就职后第八天就接受美国广播公司、哥伦比亚广播公司和共同广播公司的录音采访,由于采访地点设在总统府楼下外宾接待室的壁炉前,因此就被称为炉边谈话。罗斯福频繁出现在广播媒体畅谈国事,联系百姓,他将自己的声音传播至整个美国,让美国人民感受到他的权威仍然存在,在此期间他还搜罗了大量新闻记者为己所用。罗斯福之后历代美国总统越来越重视媒体的作用,在美国总统大选时候选人就把媒介当作自己需要征服的首要对象。

2008年美国总统大选之时,正值美国金融海啸爆发,次贷危机使整个美国的经济陷入恐慌与低潮。这和当年罗斯福利用广播媒体开展炉边谈话,巩固自己及政府形象和地位的时代背景非常相似,只不过随着媒介技术的进步,电视逐步取代广播成为人们日常生活中最亲密接触的媒介。如何在这种低靡、日渐衰退的经济形势下,将美国人民沮丧而消沉的情绪转而到关心美国政治选举、支持候选人本人,并重新燃起对美国政府以及将来生活和工作的信心,成为美国总统候选人需要攻克的关键问题。而电视作为最广泛、最深入人心的媒体,承载着这种功能。奥巴马在经历几个月的选举之后,终于走向了胜选演讲的讲台。2008年11月4日,奥巴马在自己的家乡芝加哥发表了胜选感言,美国CBS电视台直播奥巴马胜选演讲的全过程,当奥巴马站在讲台上向全美国、全世界挥手并致胜选宣言时,就算当时没有在现场的选民,透过电视也完全相信他就是美国新时代的“救世主”,是能帮助人们从经济低靡的沼泽地中拯救重生的 “超级英雄”,这都得益于奥巴马的胜选演讲的传播技巧和电视传播特性的完美结合。在电视时代,奥巴马美国总统大选的胜选演讲通过电视媒体传达给更多选民,而掌握了符合媒介特性的传播技巧,将帮助美国总统候选人积聚人气,提升支持率。

二、电视时代美国总统大选演讲的传播技巧

1.个人风格+电视媒体:一场成功的政治表演秀

美国总统大选演讲,从狭义讲可以称为政治宣传的一种,因为其目的是通过政治说服,其政治观点能获得选民的支持,从而实现自己的政治目的。拉斯韦尔在《世界大战中的宣传技巧》一书中曾经指出:“平民的思想是经过新闻报道,而不是军事训练,才被统一起来的。宣传正是帮助和支持这一过程的方法 。”他认为宣传是通过控制社会暗示来控制公众舆论的。而电视媒介上的演讲,对于演绎宣传来说是最好不过的“伪装”了。究其原因有二:其一、从媒介角度来看,电视媒介已成为人们日常生活中不可缺少的组成部分,人们每天会花大量时间通过电视媒体来接受外界信息,并且对这一传统媒体所传播的内容具有一定的信任度。其二、从演讲来看,演讲如同演员的舞台表演,当演讲者进行朗读或者演讲时,就相当于是开始了表演。演讲者为了演出的成功,会选择各种表演技巧,并寻求艺术手段来使得表演更逼真而感人。当他找到合适自己、合适观众、合适这个舞台的表演艺术模式时,他的表演最终就能获得成功,这不仅意味着,演讲者的个人魅力能获得增值,而且他所说的观点、意见和看法都能引起观众即听众的共鸣,最终达到宣传的效果。

因此,当进行演讲时,必须实现个人风格与电视特性的对接,即找到两者的契合点,才能产生良好的传播效果。麦克卢汉在《媒介即讯息》中曾提到,演讲者必须善于利用传播媒介的特点来实现演讲的效果,其演讲内容和表达方式必须与自己选择或者面对的媒介特性相吻合,不然只能达到事倍功半的负面效果。美国总统历来是颇受关注的知名人物,其一言一行不仅成为人们评价与议论的话题,甚至还被人们苛刻地定义为是对他支持还是反对的一种标准。比如媒体就曾经批评小布什不善于辩论,说他只是像个播音员一样将智囊团准备的稿子照本宣科的读,说话毫无魅力,抓不住受众的注意力,这在他与克里的竞选辩论中就表露无余。但是显然小布什在这方面的缺陷通过大笔媒介公关费而稍有弥补。而美国总统大选中的演讲作为一个郑重而关键的环节,更需要候选人了解媒介的具体情况,为己所用。而从奥巴马在美国总统大选胜选演讲的电视直播来看,他是深谙电视媒体特性的,他不仅善于在电视中通过自身形象、动作等表现出自己的外在个人魅力,而且掌握的一整套演讲传播技巧来充实自己的这场政治表演秀,从而将自己推上了值得信赖的美国总统的宝座。

2.演讲隐喻+电视煽情:选民挥动想象的翅膀

虽然在政治演讲说中很少有人会对未来的事进行规划或者承诺,但隐喻却能带领人们通过发挥想象来预见未来。里根在选举和总统期间的演讲通过隐喻取得良好的传播效果。当时美国陷入经济衰退期,里根用“一个庞大的政府在美国人民的四周树起了高高的围墙”作为紧迫现实的隐喻,“高高的围墙”的压力使人们感同身受,这在美国公民脑海中通过想象来回忆现实,刻画了遭受压力窒息而生活着的画面。但后来里根又用“人们有能力克服政府带来的问题,超越那些把他们关起来的高墙”这一隐喻号召美国人民重燃斗志,为经济发展发挥力量。这种隐喻的技巧帮助里根引导美国人民的情绪往他所期望的方向发展 , 事实上美国经济最终得以恢复,这种信念指引也发挥了作用。

在奥巴马的胜选演讲中,奥巴马使用了演讲隐喻来带动选民的情绪。隐喻建立在现实基础之上,陈述过去的事,使听众记起那些事,以便把未来的事审议得更周到 。奥巴马的胜选演讲首先从美国面临的两场战争:一个面临危险的星球和百年来最严重的金融危机说起,然后满怀激情地表示“21个月前那个寒冬所开始的一切不应该在今天这个秋夜结束”,带领人们进入“我们的时代,让我们的人民重新就业,为我们的后代敞开机会的大门”、“我们的故事与众不同的,我们的命运是共同的,美国领导的新纪元已近在手边”、“让‘美国梦’重新焕发光芒”、“美国的灯塔依然明亮如初”的想象。“我们的时代”、“美国梦”、“美国的灯塔”,这些隐喻使美国人民坚定了“美国正在变革”的信念,也使他们坚信“我们的联邦会日臻完善”。

隐喻通过电视媒体的传播,更能起到煽情作用。电视媒体在直播中,传播的是现场,也是现实,但是通过选择性地利用一些画面,能引起人们对于想象的共鸣。奥巴马胜选演讲中的隐喻,就是在电视媒体的这种操作中获得发挥作用的。电视媒体直播报道重视镜头切换,我们在电视屏幕中看到的,不仅是奥巴马目光坚定的面向美国公民振臂高呼的正面形象的,镜头还时常转向现场的富有代表性的选民,既有潸然泪下的黑人女性,又有深受感染的白人男性,既有年迈普通劳动者,也有年轻知识分子,无不为奥巴马的演讲所感动,而镜头所显现出的这些人物不是偶然的,而是具有典型性和代表性的人物。奥巴马的具有鼓动性的声音语言加上经过精心挑选的普通人的煽情性的表情,电视媒体运用声音和视觉结合的声像技术,将演讲的高潮阶段演绎得让所有观众为之动容。人们随着奥巴马的演讲,回顾了美国的历史,挥动想象的翅膀,憧憬着美好的未来,仿佛身上陡增“理想中永恒的力量:民主,自由,机遇与永不屈服的信念”,跟着奥巴马大声应和:“是的,我们能做到”。

3.模糊化下的双重言说+视觉冲击:塑造想象中的共同体

奥巴马在胜选演讲中也利用了模糊化的双重言说,其中最为突出的一点是,他将“我们”模糊化了。根据统计,在奥巴马的胜选演讲中共出现87次“我们”这个单词,但是事实上他所说的“我们”,包涵着不同意思,有时“我们”确实包括选民(如“但最重要的是,我永远不会忘记这场胜利的真正所有者,胜利属于你们,胜利属于你们。”),但有时“我们”指的仅是他的选举团队(如“我们的竞选活动并非诞生于华盛顿的高门华第之内”),而有时甚至看不清他指的“我们”是否代表的是美国政府(如“我们亟待开发新能源、创造新的工作机会”,因为开发新能源、创造新的工作机会在很大程度上需要依靠美国政府或者大的经济财团来提供,不是普通选民能单枪匹马决定的)。而当奥巴马面对选民、面对摄像机说出“我们”的时候,其目的是想最大限度地获得更广泛的选民的支持,因此就可能模糊化“我们”的内涵——特别是模糊了普通公民与美国政府之间的界限。

通过电视媒体的镜头转换,我们可以看见成分复杂的选民大众,有很多非欧洲裔人群,还包括工人或者社会地位低下的人群或者弱势人群,他们是更渴望获得其他人认同,更渴望平等,更渴望被称之为“我们”的人。奥巴马演讲中的这种模糊化下的双重言说,仿佛是给这些人以承诺,让他们相信,将来的美国是所有人的美国,不分种族、不分贵贱的美国,仿佛奥巴马一进白宫,将来的美国政府将代表着更广泛的人们的利益,而他们将改变现状,成为受益者。因此我们可以通过电视直播看到,一名黑人女性双眼噙泪得跟着奥巴马反复念叨“yes,we can(是的,我们能做到)”,这是她对将来的一种渴望,是心愿能够实现的激动之泪。

4.观众需求+媒体符码化:最大限度地争取支持

奥巴马需要结合受众特点,最大限度地争取更多观众的支持,根据斯图亚特•霍尔对电视受众进行区分,可以把奥巴马胜选演讲的观众分为投合性解码受众、协调性解码受众和背离性解码受众三类。投合性解码受众一般指那种一如既往支持或崇拜奥巴马的人群,协调性解码受众一般指对奥巴马的观点部分肯定,但是态度有些摇摆的人群,背离性解码受众一般指与奥巴马持相反意见,或者站在敌对阵营的人群。而奥巴马胜选演讲的目的是:保证投合性解码受众的支持,并争取协调性解码的受众,甚至试图改变背离性解码受众的态度。经常有人说很多政治演讲是空无一物,没有内容的,而恰恰相反,这体现了政治演讲中修辞的特点。政治演讲中的修辞,通过言词的表达,让人觉得“说得很有道理”,但是仔细想想,“好象没有具体说些什么”,通过中性化、抽象的词语,不提供非对即错的斩钉截铁的观点,使得演讲的观点不过于偏激,但能增强公民士气,这种语言,不同类别的受众会依据自己的编码过程去理解,那些支持者仍然会从支持的角度去理解,协调性解码的受众在士气渲染下会偏向支持一方,而背离性解码的受众不会马上批判演讲观点而产生抵触心理,乐观地说,可能因解读角度发生变化而倒戈。

篇5：美国总统演讲

美国人民的实验

Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

Among the vicissitudes incident to life no event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order，and received on the 14th day of the present month.On the one hand，I was summoned by my Country，whose voice I can never hearbut with veneration and love,from a retreat which I hadchosen with the fondest predilection,and,in my flattering hopes,with an immutable decision,as the asylum of my declining years-a retreat which was rendered every day more necessary as well as more dear to me by the addition of habit to inclination ,and of frequent interruptions in my health to the gradual waste committed on it by time.On the other hand ,themagnitude and difficulty of the trust to which the voice of my country called me,being sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most experienced of her citizens a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications,could not but overwhelm with despondence one who（inheriting inferior endowments from nature and unpracticed in the duties of civil administration）ought to be peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies.In this conflict of emotions all I dare aver is that it has been my faithful study to collect my duty from a just appreciation of every circumstance by which it might be affected.All I dare hope is that if ,in executing this task ,I have been too much swayed by a grateful remembrance of former instances ,or by an affectionate sensibility to this transcendent proof of the confidence of my fellow-citizens,and havethence too litter consulted my incapacity as well as disinclination for the weighty and untried cares before me ,my error will be palliated bythe motives which mislead me,and its consequences be judged by my country with some share of the partiality in which they originated.Such being the impressions under which I have ,in obedience to the public summons,repaired to the present station ,it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe,who presides in the councils of nations,and whose providential aids can supply every human defect,that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes,and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge.In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good,I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own ,nor those of my fellow-citizens at large less than either.No people can be boundto acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States.Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency,and in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their united government the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities from which the event has resulted cannot be compared with the means by which most governments have been established without some return of pious gratitude,along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seem to presage.These reflections,arising out of the present crisis,have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be suppressed.You Will join with me ,I trust,in thinking that there are none under the influence of which the proceedings of a new and free government can more auspiciously commence.By the article establishing the executive department it is made the duty of the

President“to recommend to your consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”The circumstances under which I now meet you Will acquit me from entering into that subject further than to refer to the great constitutional charter under which you are assembled ,and which,in defining your powers ,designates the objects to which your attention is to be given.It will be more consistent with those circumstances,and far more congenial with the feelings which actuate me ,to substitute ,in place of a recommendation of particular measures ,the tribute that is due to the talents ,the rectitude ,and the patriotism which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt them.In those honorable qualifications I behold the surest pledges that as on one side no local prejudices,will misdirect the comprehensive and equal eye which ought to watch over this great assemblage of communities and interests,so , on another ,that the foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality , and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens and command the respect of the world.I dwell on this prospect with every satisfaction which an ardent love for my country can inspire,since there is no truth more thoroughly established than that there exist in the economy and course of nature an indissoluble union between virture and happiness.between duty and advantage.between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity.since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.and since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the tepublican model of government are justly considered,perhaps,as deeply ,as finally,staked on the experiment rntrusted to the hands of the American people.Besides the ordinary objects submitted to your care ,it will remain with your judgement to decide how far an exercise of the occasional power delegated by the fifth article of the Constitution is rendered expedient at the present juncture by the nature of objections which have been urged against the system ,or by the degree of inquietude which has given birth to them.Instead of undertaking particular recommendations on this subject,in which I could be guided by no lights derived from official opportunities,I shall again give way to me entire confidence in your discernment and pursuit of the public good.for I assure myself that whilst you carefully avoid every alteration which might endanger the benefits of an united and effective government,or which ought to await the future lessons of experience,a reverence for the characteristic rights of freemen and a regard for the public harmony will sufficiently influence your deliberations on the questions how far the former can be impregnably fortified or the latter be safely and advantageously promoted.To the foregoing observations I have one to add ,which will be most properly addressed to the House of Representatives.It concerns myself ,and will therefore be aswbrief as possible.When I was first honored with a call into the service of my country ,then on the eve of an arduous struggle for its liberties ,the light in which I contemplated my duty required that I should renounce every pecuniary compensation.From this resolution I have in no instance departed.and being still under the impressions which produced it ,I must decline as inapplicable to myself.any share in the personal emoluments which may be indispensably included in a permanent provision for the executive department ,and must accordingly pray that the pecuniary estimates for the station in which I am placed may during my continuance in it belimited to such actual expenditures as the public good may be thought to require.Having thus imparted to you my sentiments as they have been awaken by the occasion which brings us together ,I shall take my present leave.but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race in the humble supplication that ,since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility ,and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness ,so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views ,the temperate consultation ,and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.译文

参议院和众议院的公民们:

在人生沉浮中，没有一件事能比本月十四日收到你们送达的通知更使我焦虑不安。一方面，国家召唤我出任总统一职，对于她的召唤，我只能肃然从命。而隐退是我以挚爱心情，满腔希望和坚定决心所选择的暮年归宿，由于爱好和习惯，且时光流逝，健康渐衰，时感体力不济，越来越感到隐退的必要和珍贵。另一方面，国家召唤我担负的责任如此巨大而艰巨，足以使国内最有才智和经验的人度德量力，而我天资愚钝，又没有民政管理经验，应该倍觉自己能力不足，因此必然感到难以担此重任。怀着这种矛盾的心情，我唯一敢断言的是，通过正确估计可能产生影响的各种情况来恪尽职责，乃是我忠贞不渝的努力目标。我唯一敢祈望的是，如果我在执行这项任务时因沉溺于往事，或因由衷感激公民们对我高度的信赖，因而过分受到了影响，以致在处理从未经历过的大事时，忽视了自己的无能和消极，我的错误将会出于使我误入歧途的各种动机而减轻，而大家在批判错误的后果时，也会适应包涵产生这些动机的偏见。

既然这就是我在遵奉公众召唤就任现职时的感想，那么，在此宣誓就职之际，如不热情地祈求全能的上帝将是一件非常不当的事，因为上帝统治着宇宙，主宰着各国政府，它的神助能弥补人类的任何不足。愿上帝赐福，保佑一个为了美国人民的自由和幸福而组建的政府，保佑它为这些基本目的而做出的贡献，保佑政治的各项行政措施在我负责之下都能成功的发挥作用。我相信，在向公众利益和私人利益的伟大缔造者献这份崇敬时，这些话也同样表了各位和广大公民的心声。没有人能比美国人民更坚定不移地承认和崇拜掌管人类事务的上帝。他们在迈向独立国家的进程中，似乎每一步都有某种天佑的现象。他们在刚刚完成的联邦政府体制的重大改革中，如果不是由虔诚的感恩而获得的某种回报，如果不是谦卑地期待着过去有所预示的赐福的到来，那么，通过众多截然不同的集团的平静思考和自愿赞同来完成改革，这种方式是难以同大多数政府在组建过程中所采用的方式相比的。在目前转折关头，我产生这些想法确实是深有所感而不能自己。我相信大家会和我怀有同感，即如果不能仰仗上帝的力量，一个新生的自由政府就无法做到一开始就事事如意。

根据设立行政部门的条款，总统有责任“将他认为必要而适宜的措施提请国会审议”。但在目前与各位见面的这个场合，恕我不进一步讨论这个问题，而只是提一下伟大的宪法，它使各位今天欢聚一堂，它规定了各位的权限，指出了各位应该注意的目标。在这样的场合，更恰当，也更能反应我内心的激情的做法不是提出具体措施，而是称颂将要规划和采纳这些措施的当选者的才能，正直和爱国心。我从这些高贵品格中看到了最可靠的保证：其一，任何地方偏见或地方感情，任何意见分歧或党派歧视，都不能使我们偏离全局的观念和公平观点，即必须维护这个由不同地区和不同利益所组建的大联合政权；因此，其二，我国的政策将会以纯正不够的个人道德原则为基础，而自由政府将会以赢得民心和全世界尊敬的一切特点而显示其优越性。

我对国家的一片热爱之心激励着我满怀喜悦地展望这幅远景，因为根据自然界法则和发展趋势，在美德与幸福之间，责任与利益之间，恪守诚实宽厚的政策与获得社会繁荣幸福的硕果之间，有着密不可分的关系；因为我们应该同样相信，上帝亲自规定了永恒的秩序和权利法则，他绝不可能对无视这些法则的国家慈颜欢笑；因为人们理所当然地，满怀深情地，也许是最后一次地把维护神圣的自由之火和共和制政府的命运，系于美国人所遵命进行的实验上。

除了提醒各位注意的一般事务外，在当前的时刻，根据激烈反对共和制的各种意见的性质，或根据引起这些意见的不同程度，在必要时行使宪法第五条授予的权利究竟有多大益处，将依靠你们来加以判断和决定。在这个问题上，我无法从过去担任过的职务中得到借鉴 因此我不提具体的建议，而是再一次完全信任各位对公众利益的辨别和追求；因为我相信，各位只要谨慎，避免做出任何可能危及团结而有效的政府利益的修订，或避免作出应该等待未来经验教训的修订，那么，各位对自由人特有权利的尊重和对社会安定的关注，就足以影响大家慎重考虑应在何种程度上坚定不移地加强前者，并有利无弊的促进后者。

除上述建议外，我还补充一点，而且觉得向众议院提出最恰当。这条意见与我有关，因此应当尽量讲得简短一些。我第一次荣幸地响应号召为国家效劳时，正值我国为自由而艰苦奋斗之际，我对我的职责的看法要求我必须放弃任何俸禄。我从未违背过这一决定。如今，促使我作出这一同样决定的想法仍然支配着我，因此，我必须拒绝对我来说不适宜的任何个人津贴可能被列入并成为政府部门常设基金不可分割的一部分。同样，我必须恳求各位，在估算我就任这个职位所需要的费用时，可以根据我的任期以公众利益所需的实际费用为限。

篇6：美国总统经典英语演讲

Hi, everybody.Over the past year, as I traveled across the country campaigning for this office, I told you that if I was fortunate enough to be re-elected, I’d work to change a tax code that too often benefited the wealthy at the expense of the middle class.This week, we did that.For the first time in two decades, we raised taxes on the wealthiest 2% of Americans in a bipartisan way, while preventing a middle-class tax hike that could have thrown our economy back into recession.Under this law, more than 98% of Americans and 97% of small business will not see their income taxes go up one dime.We also made sure that millions of families will continue to receive tax credits to help raise their children and send them to college.Companies will continue to receive tax credits for the research they do, the investments they make, and the clean energy jobs they create.And two million Americans who are out of work will continue to receive unemployment benefits so long as they are actively looking for a job.But all this was just one more step in the broader effort to grow our economy and shrink our deficits.We still need to do more to put Americans back to work while also putting this country on a path to pay down its debt.And our economy can’t afford more protracted showdowns or manufactured crises along the way.Because even as our businesses created 2 million new jobs last year – including 168,000 new jobs last month – the messy brinksmanship in Congress made business owners more uncertain and consumers less confident.We know there’s a path forward.Last year, I signed into law $1.7 trillion in deficit reduction.This week’s action further reduces the deficit by $737 billion, making it one of the largest deficit reduction bills passed by Congress in over a decade.And I’m willing to do more.I believe we can find more places to cut spending without shortchanging things like education, job training, research and technology all which are critical to our prosperity in a 21st century economy.But spending cuts must be balanced with more reforms to our tax code.The wealthiest individuals and the biggest corporations shouldn’t be able to take advantage of loopholes and deductions that aren’t available to most Americans.And as I said earlier this week, one thing I will not compromise over is whether or not Congress should pay the tab for a bill they’ve already racked up.If Congress refuses to give the United States the ability to pay its bills on time, the consequences for the entire global economy could be catastrophic.The last time Congress threatened this course of action, our entire economy suffered for it.Our families and our businesses cannot afford that dangerous game again.I congratulate the newly sworn-in Members of Congress, and I look forward to working with the new Congress in a bipartisan way.If we focus on the interests of our country above the interests of party, I’m convinced we can cut spending and raise revenue in a manner that reduces our deficit and protects the middle class.And we can step up to meet the important business that awaits us this year.Creating jobs and boosting incomes.Fixing our infrastructure and our immigration system.Promoting our energy independence while protecting our planet from the harmful effects of climate change.Educating our children and shielding them from the horrors of gun violence.These aren’t just things we should do – they’re things we must do.And in this New Year, I’ll fight as hard as I know how to get them done.Happy New Year, everybody.