評論
打印
John Quincy Adams was America's sixth President and the first who was the son of a President. In many respects, he paralleled the career as well as the temperament and viewpoints of his illustrious father. Adams was born in Massachusetts in 1767. He spent much of his youth accompanying his father overseas and became fluent in French and Dutch. After graduating from Harvard College, he became a lawyer.
約翰·昆西·亞當斯是美國第六任總統，是第一位繼其父親之后成為總統的總統。在許多方面，如：事業、性格，及觀點上，亞當斯都能夠和他那杰出的父親相匹敵。亞當斯于1767年出生在馬薩諸塞州。幼年時，他常常和父親一起到海外，從而逐漸精通法語和荷蘭語。亞當斯曾就讀哈佛大學，畢業后，擔任律師職位。
His political career began at the age of 26 when he was appointed Minister to the Netherlands. In 1802 he was elected to the United States Senate. Six years later President Madison appointed him Minister to Russia. As secretary to his father in Europe, he became an accomplished diarist. The fifty volumes he wrote documenting nineteenth-century American politics are often used by historians today.
他的政治生涯開始于26歲，那時他被任命為駐荷蘭公使。1802年，他被選為美國參議院議員。六年后，麥迪遜總統任命他為駐俄公使。在歐洲時，亞當斯擔任父親手下的秘書，并因此成了位頗有成就的記日記者。亞當斯寫的50卷19世紀美國政治往往為當今歷史學家所借鑒。
In the political tradition of the early 19th century, Adams, as Secretary of State, was considered the heir to the Presidency. However, the old ways of choosing a President were giving way to electing someone popular. Nevertheless, Adams narrowly beat Andrew Jackson to become America's sixth President in 1825. Many of his proposals to modernize America were rejected in Congress by his enemies.
按照19世紀早期美國的政治慣例，身為美國國務卿的亞當斯自然而然被認為是美國總統的繼承人。然而，美國傳統的總統選舉方式并未奏效，選舉結果是另一位有名人物——安德魯·杰克遜。雖然如此，亞當斯還是以微弱優勢擊敗安德魯·杰克遜，成為1825年美國第六任總統。他的許多關于促進美國現代化的提議遭到美國國會反對人士的拒絕。
After leaving office as President in 1829, Adams was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives – the only president ever to do this. He continued to shape America's foreign policy. Historians say he is one of America's greatest ever diplomats. He also devoted himself to attacking the power slave owners had in Congress. On February 21, 1848 Adams collapsed in the House and died two days later.
1829年，亞當斯卸任美國總統，被選為美國眾議院議員——他是唯一一位當選美國眾議員的卸任總統。此后，他繼續影響美國的外交政策。歷史學家稱亞當斯為美國有史以來最偉大的外交官之一。同時，他還致力于抨擊奴隸主在國會的權力。1848年2月21日，亞當斯因顱內出血，倒在美國眾議院，并于兩天后辭世。
譯文屬可可英語原創，未經允許，不得轉載。
