Unit Two: History and PersonalityText AVoice of CourageBy Jonathan AlterA few days after Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn into office, he sat in the White House working on a radio speech about the country's banking crisis, scheduled for delivery on Sunday, March 12, 1933. It was the depths of the Depression, with a quarter of Americans out of work, homeless and destitute. Glancing out the window, FDR saw a workman taking down the inaugural scaffolding on the White House grounds."I decided I'd try to make a speech that this workman could understand," he told Louis Howe, his chief aide.The American economic system was in a state of shock. On Saturday, March 4, a few hours before FDR's swearing-in, the governors of New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania signed orders closing banks in those states. The New York Stock Exchange had suspended trading, and the Chicago Board of Trade bolted its doors for the first time since its founding in 1848. The terrifying "runs" that began the year before on more than 5,000 failing banks had stripped rural areas of capital and now threatened to overwhelm American cities.This was the bottom. If you had your money in a bank that went bust, you were wiped out. With no idea whether banks would reopen, millions of people hid their few remaining assets under their mattresses, where no one could steal them without a fight.Roosevelt's inaugural address at the Capitol had begun to restore hope, with his standout line, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Yet the greatest applause came when he said that if his reform program was not adopted, "I shall ask Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis: broad executive power to wage a war against the emergency."Then FDR used a new medium in a new way to change millions.The first Presidential radio broadcast was introduced by Robert Trout of CBS, who read from a folksy script approved by FDR: "The President wants to come into your home and sit at your fireside for a little fireside chat." FDR brought natural talent to the role. His speaking voice was a beautiful, relaxed tenor, not the contrived basso profundo of pompous politicians.Roosevelt owed much to technological good fortune. In 1921, the number of radios in the United States was in the thousands. By 1928, there were 9 million, and by 1932, 18 million, with about half the households owning at least one radio. Herbert Hoover had appeared on one of the first "telecasts" produced by an infant technology called television, but neither he nor anyone else knew how to use the broadcasting medium effectively.Roosevelt, though, was different.All afternoon, workers busily removed the gold pieces and Presidential china patterns in the Diplomatic Reception Room on the White House ground floor. In came bulky electricalequipment and telephone cables, connected to a desk and built-in microphone. Meanwhile, Roosevelt pictured people "gathered in the parlor, listening with their neighbors," wrote Frances Perkins, who witnessed many broadcasts. "As he talked, his head would nod and his hands would move in natural, relaxed gestures. His face would light up as though he were actually sitting with people."The ritual went this way: Upstairs, FDR would put the finishing touches on every word and phrase. He was obsessed with punctuation. Grace Tully, his secretary, sometimes inserted extra commas when she typed, leading her boss to gently upbraid her for "wasting the taxpayers' commas." His real concern was timing. He read aloud at about 100 words a minute, but he adjusted his pace for effect. At 6 p.m., Roosevelt had his throat sprayed for a sinus problem. Then he enjoyed cocktails and dinner.Moments before the first Fireside Chat was to air, there was a crisis. No one could find his leather-bound reading copy. Panic ensued for everyone except FDR, who calmly picked up a smudged, mimeographed copy. After sipping from a glass of water, he read the words perfectly on the air.The beauty of that first prime-time radio speech was its clarity. FDR walked people through the basics of banking without being patronizing. He outlined the process for deciding which banks to open. "He made everyone understand it, even the bankers," Will Rogers quipped later.In the middle of the speech, Roosevelt said simply, "I can assure you that it is safer to keep your money in a reopened bank than under the mattress." By raising an issue that made so many feel shameful, he lifted the shame—offering listeners a way to strike a patriotic blow by simply depositing money into a solvent bank. Those who planned instead to withdraw money were gently thrown in with an unsavory lot. Hoarding, the President said, "has become an exceedingly unfashionable pastime."Then he returned to themes so popular in his inaugural. "Confidence and courage are the essentials in carrying out our plan. Let us unite in banishing fear. We have provided the machinery to restore our financial system. Together we cannot fail."Jim Farley, a top political advisor, wrote that if judged by its impact, this speech may have been the greatest single utterance by an American President. "No other talk ever called forth such a wave of spontaneous enthusiasm and cooperation." With 60 million people listening, the effect was immediate. The next day, Monday, March 13, newspapers reported long lines of Americans anxious to redeposit their money. The New York Stock Exchange, closed for over a week, opened 15 percent higher, the largest one-day surge in more than half a century. Within a week, most of the recently closed banks reopened.Gerald Ford, about 20 at the time, remembered FDR's Fireside Chats as "big events—we would all stop and listen." Ronald Reagan's biographer, Lou Cannon, has written that Reagan's "metaphors were the offspring of FDR's." And Bill Clinton recalled hearing his grandfather talkabout how he sat in rapt attention, "then went to work the next day feeling a little different about the country."After the first Fireside Chat, FDR relaxed in his office. At 11:30 p.m. he said, "I think it's time for beer." Preparations for a bill to speed the end of Prohibition began that night.Vocabulary1.swear [♦♦☪☜] v. to admit someone to a particular office or position by directing themto take a formal oath 宣誓2.delivery [♎♓●♓❖☜❒♓] n. giving a speech in public 演讲3.destitute [ ♎♏♦♦♓♦◆♦] adj. having no money, no food, no home etc. 困穷的4.inaugural [♓⏹♈◆❒☜●] adj. (of an official speech) first, and marking thebeginning of sth. important 就职的, 开始的5.scaffolding [ ♦✌♐☜●♎✋☠] n. a set of poles and boards built into a structure forworkers to stand on outside of a building 脚手架6.aide [♏♓♎] n. sb. helping a person with an important job, esp. a politician <美>助手, 副官7.swearing-in [♦♦☪☜✋☠✋⏹] n. making a promise to do a job correctly宣誓就职8.suspend [♦☜♦☐♏⏹♎] v. to officially stop something from continuing, esp. for a shorttime暂停9.bolt [♌☜◆●♦] v. to lock a door or window by sliding a bolt across上门闩10.overwhelm [ ☜◆❖☜♦♏●❍] v. to surprise someone very much so that they do notknow how to react 使人不知所措11.asset [ ✌♦♏♦] n. the property of a person, company, etc., esp. of value 资产12.mattress [ ❍✌♦❒♓♦] n. the soft part of a bed to lie on床垫13.Capitol [ ✌☐♓♦☜●] n. the building in Washington D.C. where the US Congressmeets国会大厦14.restore [❒♓♦♦] v. to make something return to its former state or condition恢复15.standout [♊♦♦✌⏹♎♋☺♦] adj. a person or sth. in a group much better than all the rest出色的, 杰出的16.Congress [ ☠♈❒♏♦] n. the group of people elected to make laws in the US,consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives (美国等国的)国会, 议会17.executive [♓♈♏◆♦♓❖] adj. relating to the job of managing a business ororganization and making decisions行政的18.wage [♦♏♓♎✞] v. to begin and continue a war, a battle, etc. 发动19.folksy [ ♐☜◆♦♓] adj. (infml.) esp. AmE friendly and informal 和气的, 无拘束的20.script [♦❒♓☐♦] n. the written form of a speech, play, film etc.手稿, 原本21.tenor [ ♦♏⏹☜] n. a high male singing voice 男高音22.contrived [ ☜⏹♦❒♋✋❖♎] adj. seeming false and not natural人为的, 做作的23.basso profundo n. (pl. basso profundos) a deep bass sing voice 低音24.pompous [ ☐❍☐☜♦] adj. feeling oneself better than others浮夸的25.telecast [ ♦♏●♓♦♦] n. sth. broadcast on television电视广播26.bulky [ ♌✈●♓] adj. bigger and difficult to carry or store体积大的27.parlor [ ☐●☜] n. (old-fashion) a room in pubic buildings to receive guests会客室28.obsess [☜♌♦♏♦] v. to be talking or worrying about sth. all the time 着迷29.punctuation [☐✈☠♦☺♏✋☞☎☜✆⏹] n. the marks to divide writing intosentences, phrases, etc.标点, 标点符号30.upbraid [✈☐♌❒♏♓♎] v. (fml.) to blame sb. having done sth. wrong责备31.timing [ ♦♋♓❍♓☠] n. speed调速32.spray [♦☐❒♏♓] v. to force liquid out of a container in a stream of very small drops喷射33.sinus [ ♦♋♓⏹☜♦] n. the spaces in the bones of one’s head connected to the inside ofone’s nose窦34.air [☪☜] v. to broadcast a program on television or radio （用无线电，电视）播送35.panic [ ☐✌⏹♓] n. a sudden strong feeling of fear or nervousness making sb. unableto think clearly 惊慌, 恐慌36.ensue [♓⏹♦◆] vi. to happen after or as a result of something跟着发生37.smudge [♦❍✈♎✞] v. to make a dirty mark on a surface弄脏38.mimeograph [ ❍♓❍♓☜♈❒♐] n. a copy made by using a duplicator油印品39.prime-time n. the time in the evening with the largest number of people watchingtelevision黄金时段40.patronizing [ ☐✌♦❒☜⏹♋♓♓☠] adj. showing oneself better, or more intelligent高人一等的41.quip [ ♦♓☐] v. to say something clever and amusing 嘲弄42.assure [☜☞◆☜] v. to tell positively or confidently向…保证43.solvent [ ♦●❖☜⏹♦] adj. having enough money to pay your debts有偿付能力的44.unsavory [✈⏹♦♏✋❖☜❒✋] adj. disgusting令人讨厌的45.lot n. a group or set of people or things 一批，一类人或物46.hoarding [ ♒♎♓☠] n. store贮藏47.pastime [ ☐♦♦♋♓❍] n. something enjoyable or interesting消遣, 娱乐48.theme [ ♓❍] n. the main subject or idea in writing, speech, film, etc. (谈话, 写作等的) 主题49.banish [ ♌✌⏹♓☞] v. to try to stop thinking about something or someone消除50.utterance [ ✈♦☜❒☜⏹♦] n. (fml.) something a person says说话51.spontaneous [♦☐⏹♦♏♓⏹☜♦ ⏹♓☜♦] adj. not planned or organized, buthappening by itself 自发的, 自然产生的52.surge [♦☜♎✞] n. a sudden increase in amount or number剧增53.rapt [❒✌☐♦] adj. attentive全神贯注的Phrases and expressions1.work on: to try hard to improve or achieve something 从事于；致力于2.take down: to separate sth. into pieces拆卸3.go bust: to go bankrupt [俚]破产;完蛋4.wiped out: [not before noun] (infml.) extremely tired 精疲力竭的5.the finishing touch: the last detail 最后一笔6.walk sb. through sth.: to help sb. learn or become familiar with sth.帮助某人了解某事7.strike a blow for sb./sth.: to help achieve an aim 帮助某人获得成功8.call forth: to produce a particular reaction 使起作用Notes1.Jonathan Alter: Jonathan Alter (1957-) is a columnist and senior editor for Newsweekmagazine, where he has worked since 1983. For nearly two decades, he has written a widely acclaimed column that examines politics, media, and social and global issues. For more than a decade, he has worked as a contributing correspondent to NBC News.2.Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Franklin D. Roosevelt(1882-1945), the thirty-second Presidentof the United States (1933-1945). Assuming the Presidency at the depth of the GreatDepression, Franklin D. Roosevelt helped the American people regain faith in themselves. He brought hope as he promised prompt, vigorous action, and asserted in his Inaugural Address, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."3.The Depression: The “Great Depression” (1929-1939) was a period in United StatesHistory when business was poor. Banks, stores, and factories were closed and left millions of Americans jobless, homeless, and penniless. Many people came to depend on the government or charity to provide them with food. The Depression became a worldwide business slump of the 1930's that affected almost all nations. 大萧条4.The New York Stock Exchange: The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), nicknamed the"Big Board," is a New York City-based stock exchange. It is the largest stock exchange in the world. 纽约证券交易所5.The Chicago Board of Trade: An important market in Chicago, US, in which futurecontracts for the delivery of commodities are bought and sold. 芝加哥交易所6.Robert Trout: (1909-2000) an American broadcast news reporter, best known for his radiowork before and during World War II. He anchored CBS News coverage of World War II and coined the phrase "fireside chat" to describe President Franklin D. Roosevelt's radio addresses to the nation.7.CBS: Columbia Broadcasting System哥伦比亚广播公司8.Herbert Hoover: (1874-1964) a US politician in the Republican Party and President of theUS from 1929 to 19339.Frances Perkins: (1882-1965) secretary of labor for the 12 years of Franklin D. Roosevelt'spresidency and the first woman to hold a Cabinet post10.Will Rogers: (1879-1935), first an Indian, a cowboy, then a national figure11.Jim Farley: (1888-1973) appointed by FDR postmaster general and party chairman in 1933and later one of FDR's closest political advisors12.Gerald Ford: (1913-2006) Thirty-eighth President (1974-1977)13.Ronald Reagan: (1911-2004) the fortieth President of the United States (1981-1989)14.Lou Cannon: (1933-) an American non-fiction author and biographer. He covered Reaganfor over twenty-five years and the author of "President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime"15.Bill Clinton (1946-): the forty-second President of the United States (1993-2001)16.Prohibition: the period from 1919 to 1933 in the US when the production and sale ofalcoholic drinks was illegal禁止, 阻止, <美>禁酒令ExercisesI. Questions for discussion1.Why does the author say that the American economic system was in a state of shock?2.What is the most encouraging line in FDR’s speech?3.Why does the author say that Roosevelt owed much to technological good fortune?4.How did FDR’s speech affect people and why?5.How do you understand the title and does the word “courage” in the title only refers to thecourage shown by FDR?II. Fill in the blanks with the words from the box. Change the form where necessary.1.You'll have to work on your ______, for you’ll face a large audience.2.The unprecedented floods left many people ____ and homeless.3.Sales of the drug will be temporally _____ until more tests are completed.4.I was completely _____ by his generosity to offer me the opportunity to use his luxury carwhen I first met him.5.He was once an immigrant worker but has now a corporation with $2 billion in ______.6.She was hoping that the Mediterranean climate would ____ her to full health and energy.7.The courts were asked to _____ a more flexible approach to young offenders instead of asevere punishment.8.The council has ______ a vigorous campaign against the proposal put forward by the newlyelected president.9.The Smiths have lived in the town for more than 50 years and they have a special love for thetown which has a certain ______ charm.10. A lot of young girls are ________ by their weight and most of them choose to go on a diet.11.The whole nation is in a state of _____ following the unexpected attacks from the world.12.The new governor is busy solving problems that _____ from food and medical shortages.13.When persuaded to give up smoking, he would _____ “Giving up smoking is easy. I've doneit hundreds of times.”14.She is seriously ill for the moment, but her doctor has ______ us that she'll be fine in no time.15.The parents are trying to _____ the unpleasant memory from their son’s mind.III. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the given words.1.The two boys were ________ friends all the week, and embattled enemies on Saturdays.(swear)2. A postman is a man employed to ________ letters and parcels. (delivery)3.Policy and action alike gained immediate and _______ support at home. (overwhelm)4.The ________ of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden. (adopt)5.In recent years, many children's welfare institutions have raised funds to have _____operations for disabled children in welfare institutions. (restore)6.Publication of his biography was ______ to coincide with his 70th birthday celebrations.(timing)7.Bertha tried to speak, but her throat was dry, and she could ________ no word. (utterance)8.He consumed a large plateful of the very ________ stew. (unsavory)9.Is it better to spend your money today or ________ every penny in the bank for tomorrow?(hoarding)10.It is a well-known fact that the English have an ________ with their weather and that, givenhalf a chance, they will take about it at length. (obsess)IV. Paraphrase the following sentences from the text.1.The terrifying "runs" that began the year before on more than 5,000 failing banks had strippedrural areas of capital and now threatened to overwhelm American cities.____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 2.If you had your money in a bank that went bust, you were wiped out.____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 3.Roosevelt owed much to technological good fortune.____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 4.The beauty of that first prime-time radio speech was its clarity.____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________5.By raising an issue that made so many feel shameful, he lifted the shame — offering listenersa way to strike a patriotic blow by simply depositing money into a solvent bank.____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________V. Translate the following sentences into English with the word in the brackets.1.政府决定暂停公务五天。
