《從28篇經典演說學思考》第26篇「難以啟口的道歉」。水門案迫使美國總統尼克森下台，這是一件有意義的事。他並未貪污，也沒做出什麼傷天害理的事，更沒有出賣國家。惟一的問題是他破壞了司法獨立。司法一旦被總統操弄，國家就無正義可言。最可敬佩的是共和黨員人完全不支持同黨的尼克森，他們是真正有原則的人。而美國和世人人的反應呢？相信也是有志一同吧！
Resigning the Presidency Aug. 8, 1974
Richard Nixon
For more than a quarter of a century in public life I have shared in the turbulent history of this era. I have fought for what I believed in. I have tried to the best of my ability to discharge those duties and meet those responsibilities that were entrusted to me.
Sometime I have succeeded and sometimes I have failed, but always I have taken heart from what Theodore Roosevelt once said about the man in the arena, “whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because there is not effort without error and shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deed, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumphs of high achievements and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
I pledge to you tonight that as long as I have a breath of life in my body, I shall continue in that spirit. I shall continue to work for the great causes to whip I have been dedicated throughout my years as a Congressman, a Senator, a Vice {resident, the cause of peace not just for America but among al nations, prosperity, justice, and opportunity for all of our purple.
When I first took the oath of office as President 5-1/2 years ago, made this sacred commitment, to“consecrate my office, my energies, and all the wisdom I can summon to the cause of peace among nations.” I have done my very best in all the days since to be true to that pledge. As a result of these efforts. I am confident that the world is a safer place today, not only for the purple of America but for the people of all nations, and that all of our children have a better chance than before of living in peace rather than dying in war.
This, more than anything, is what I hoped to achieve when I sought the Presidency. This, more than anything, is what I hope will be my legacy to you, to our country, as I leave the Presidency.
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# 從28篇經典演說學思考-李家同
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