美國總統尼克松辭職演講稿（中英文）

美國總統尼克松辭職演講稿（中英文）
美國總統尼克松辭職演講稿（英文版）

Resignation Address to the NationGood evening:This is the 37th time I have spoken to you from this office, where so many decisions have been made that shape the history of this nation. Each time I have done so to discuss with you some matter that I believe affected the national interest. In all the decisions I have made in my public life I have always tried to do what was best for the nation.Throughout the long and difficult period of Watergate, I have felt it was my duty to persevere — to make every possible effort to complete the term of office to which you elected me. In the past few days, however, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in the Congress to justify continuing that effort. As long as there was such a base, I felt strongly that it was necessary to see the constitutional process through to its conclusion; that to do otherwise would be unfaithful to the spirit of that deliberately difficult process, and a dangerously destabilizing precedent for the future. But with the disappearance of that base, I now believe that the constitutional purpose has been served. And there is no longer a need for the process to be prolonged.I would have preferred to carry through to the finish whatever the personal agony it would have involved, and my family unanimously urged me to do so. But the interests of the nation must always come before any personal considerations. From the discussions I have had with Congressional and other leaders I have concluded that because of the Watergate matter I might not have the support of the Congress that I would consider necessary to back the very difficult decisions and carry out the duties of this office in the way the interests of the nation will require.I have never been a quitter.To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as President, I must put the interests of America first.America needs a full-time President and a full-time Congress, particularly at this time with problems we face at home and abroad. To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home.Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow.Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office.As I recall the high hopes for America with which we began this second term, I feel a great sadness that I will not be here in this office working on your behalf to achieve those hopes in the next two and a half years. But in turning over direction of the Government to Vice President Ford I know, as I told the nation when I nominated him for that office ten months ago, that the leadership of America would be in good hands.In passing this office to the Vice President, I also do so with the profound sense of the weight of responsibility that will fall on his shoulders tomorrow, and therefore of the understanding, the patience, the cooperation he will need from all Americans. As he assumes that responsibility he will deserve the help and the support of all of us. As we look to the future, the first essential is to begin healing the wounds of this nation. To put the bitterness and divisions of the recent past behind us and to rediscover those shared ideals that lie at the heart of our strength and unity as a great and as a free people.By taking this action, I hope that I will have hastened the start of that process of healing which is so desperately needed in America. I regret deeply any injuries that may have been done in the course of the events that led to this decision. I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong — and some were wrong — they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interests of the nation.To those who have stood with me during these past difficult months, to my family, my friends, the many others who joined in supporting my cause because they believed it was right, I will be eternally grateful for your support. And to those who have not felt able to give me your support, let me say I leave with no bitterness toward those who have opposed me, because all of us in the final analysis have been concerned with the good of the country, however our judgments might differ.So let us all now join together in affirming that common commitment and in helping our new President succeed for the benefit of all Americans. I shall leave this office with regret at not completing my term but with gratitude for the privilege of serving as your President for the past five and a half years. These years have been a momentous time in the history of our nation and the world. They have been a time of achievement in which we can all be proud, achievements that represent the shared efforts of the administration, the Congress and the people. But the challenges ahead are equally great. And they, too, will require the support and the efforts of the Congress and the people, working in cooperation with the new Administration.We have ended America’s longest war. But in the work of securing a lasting peace in the world, the goals ahead are even more far-reaching and more difficult. We must complete a structure of peace, so that it will be said of this generation — our generation of Americans — by the people of all nations, not only that we ended one war but that we prevented future wars.We have unlocked the doors that for a quarter of a century stood between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. We must now insure that the one-quarter of the world’s people who live in the People’s Republic of China will be and remain, not our enemies, but our friends.In the Middle East, 100 million people in the Arab countries, many of whom have considered us their enemy for nearly 20 years, now look on us as their friends. We must continue to build on that friendship so that peace can settle at last over the Middle East and so that the cradle of civilization will not become its grave.Together with the Soviet Union we have made the crucial breakthroughs that have begun the process of limiting nuclear arms. But, we must set as our goal, not just limiting, but reducing and finally destroying these terrible weapons, so that they cannot destroy civilization. And so that the threat of nuclear war will no longer hang over the world and the people. We have opened a new relation with the Soviet Union. We must continue to develop and expand that new relationship, so that the two strongest nations of the world will live together in cooperation rather than confrontation.Around the world — in Asia, in Africa, in Latin America, in the Middle East — there are millions of people who live in terrible poverty, even starvation. We must keep as our goal turning away from production for war and expanding production for peace so that people everywhere on this earth can at last look forward, in their children’s time, if not in our own time, to having the necessities for a decent life. Here, in America, we are fortunate that most of our people have not only the blessings of liberty but also the means to live full and good, and by the world’s standards even abundant lives.We must press on, however, toward a goal not only of more and better jobs but of full opportunity for every American, and of what we are striving so hard right now to achieve — prosperity without inflation.For more than a quarter of a century in public life, I have shared in the turbulent history of this evening. I have fought for what I believe in. I have tried, to the best of my ability, to discharge those duties and meet those responsibilities that were entrusted to me. Sometimes 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 with 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 which I have been dedicated throughout my years as a Congressman, a Senator, Vice President and President, the cause of peace — not just for America but among all nations — prosperity, justice and opportunity for all of our people.There is one cause above all to which I have been devoted and to which I shall always be devoted for as long as I live.When I first took the oath of office as President five and a half years ago, I 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’ve 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 people 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.To have served in this office is to have felt a very personal sense of kinship with each and every American.In leaving it, I do so with this prayer: May God’s grace be with you in all the days ahead.

美國總統尼克松辭職演講稿（中文版）

晚上好。 這是我第 37 次在白宮發表演講,正是在這裏，產生了很多決定我們 國家歷史的關鍵決策。 每一次我站在這裏，都是爲了與各位討論事關國家利益的 重要問題。而我相信,在我任期內所做出的任何決定都竭力於更好地服務國家。 在整個漫長而艱難的水門事件中，我一直把 “堅持” 作爲自己的職責，我 要盡全力走完人民賦予我的總統任期。然而在過去的幾天中, 我發現在國會中已經得不到堅實的政治基礎來證明 我的這種堅持的必要性。這個基礎如果存在，我堅持認爲，通過憲法程序來獲得 最終結果是非常必要的， 否則就是對精心設計的憲法精神的背叛，並且開啓了一 個對未來極有危害的先例。 但是由於沒有了基礎，我認爲，憲政的目標已經被實現，因此，沒有理由讓 這個程序繼續下去。 我原本選擇不論將面對怎樣的痛苦都要繼續走下去, 而我的家庭也一致支 持我這樣的選擇。 然而國家的利益永遠高於個人的利益。通過我和國會以及其他 領袖的討論, 我明白， 因爲水門事件,我可能不再會贏得國會的必要的支持,沒有 這些支持，我無法繼續爲國家履行自己的職責以及做出有利於國家的決定。 然而,我從來都不是一個半途而廢的人. 在任期結束之前離開白宮， 這完全有悖於我的行事準則。但作爲總統, 我必 須永遠把美國的利益置於首位。美國需要一個全心全意的總統，和同樣全心全意的國會，尤其是在這樣一個 當國內和國外都面臨着挑戰的關鍵時候。 如果繼續我個人辯護將佔去總統和國會未來幾個月幾乎所有的時間， 而這時 我們應該做的卻是致力於世界和平及?有通貨膨脹的國家繁榮。 因此,我願意辭職, 並將於明天中午生效。 副總統福特屆時將成爲總統。 當我回想起美國人民在我第二個任期之初給予 我的高期望時, 我很難過我不能繼續在未來的兩年半里,去實現人民給予我的這 些厚望。不過將政府權力交予副總統福特，正如當我提名他時對大家所說的：美 國的權力已交付給了值得信賴的人。在將權力轉移給副總統的同時，我深感明天他將要負起的重大的責任，因此 我理解他需要所有人的合作。 當他承擔了這份責任，他也應受到所有人的幫助和 配合。 展望未來, 我們要走出第一步就是要修復我們國家所經受的創傷，將那些 痛苦和分歧拋之腦後， 重新發現那些根植於我們內心的的共同理想，重新強調我 們作爲偉大的和自由的人的團結。 通過這些努力，我希望可以加速美國所急需的癒合的進程。在這個進程中, 我對任何因這個決策所可能產生的傷害感到最深切的遺憾。我會說, 即使我有時 做出的決定和判斷是錯的——而一部分的確是錯的——也是我相信在當時它們 是最有利於我們國家的決定. 對於那些在過去艱難的幾個月中始終伴隨着我的人們，我的家人、朋友和那 些因爲相信我是正確的而相信我的人們，我將會永遠感激你們的支持。 而對於那些沒有給予我支持的人，我並不會以惡言惡語相待，因爲我相信我 們的判斷都是爲了我們的國家,不論我們的判斷有怎樣的區別。 無論如何， 現在就讓我們團結起來爲共同的目標，和我們的新總統一起帶領 美國進步。　　我雖然因爲沒有完成任期而帶着遺憾離開總統的職位， 但是更因爲有幸作爲 總統服務了五年半而感到自豪和欣喜。 這五年半對於我們的國家和世界都有着重 要的意義。 這些年我們有着讓我們引以爲豪的在政府、國會和人民共同努力下的 偉大成就。但是五年半之後我們將面臨的挑戰也同樣巨大,也同樣需要人民、國 會和政府的全力合作和努力。五年半中， 我們結束了美國最長的戰爭。但是維持世界持久和平的任務甚至 更加遙遠和崎嶇。因此,我們這代美國人要努力構建一個和平的世界秩序，被全 世界人們傳誦：因爲我們不僅結束了一場戰爭，更防止了未來戰爭發生的可能。 五年半中，我們敲開了一扇隔離美中之間 25 餘年的大門，我們必須確保佔 世界人口四分之一的中國人民是我們的朋友，而非我們的敵人。 在中東地區，有 100 萬的人口生活在阿拉伯國家，而 20 年來其中的許多人 都把美國視爲他們的敵人。我們必須繼續建立與中東地區的友好關係，才能使和 平降落在中東地區， 避免使文明的搖籃變爲文明的墳墓。 另一方面， 與蘇聯合作， 我們在限制核武器進程上取得了重大突破。但是，我們必須明確我們的目標，對 於核武器， 不應單單是限制， 更應是不斷削減直至最終完全取締這些恐怖的武器。 這樣才能使核武器不再威脅世界和人類。與此同時，我們與蘇聯的外交也打 開了新局面， 我們仍必須繼續發展和拓廣美蘇之間的關係，因而世界上兩個最強 大的國家才能夠相互合作而不再是充滿衝突。放眼世界,在亞洲、非洲、拉丁美 洲、 中東地區, 還有成千上萬的人們在貧困和飢餓中掙扎。我們必須用以和平爲 目的的生產取代以戰爭爲目的的生產， 才能讓這個地球上的所有人對享有有尊嚴 的生活燃起希望, 即使這只是在我們兒輩而不是我們自己身上實現。在這裏,美 國，我們應該感到幸運，因爲我們不僅可以受到自由平等的沐浴，更有可以體面 的生活,甚至按照世界標準來說是富足的生活。 但是我們仍需繼續努力,向着一個更高的目標——不僅僅是爲每個美國人提 供更好的工作和機會,更要拒絕通貨膨脹的美國經濟。 在我二十多年的政治生活中，今晚都?是一個重大的里程碑。我爲了自己的信仰奮戰， 我盡了我最大的努力完成我的義務。 有時我成功了， 有時我也面臨着失敗， 但是無論如何，我都一直謹記着西奧多羅斯福對戰場上武 士的評價：這些武士的面孔都混合着血淚和泥土；他們都英勇地活着；一遍一遍 遭遇坎坷和錯誤，因爲沒有努力不包含錯誤；但是他們依然不畏失誤，盡力去實 踐； 他們懂得激情和付出， 並把自己的生命奉獻於有意義的事業； 因爲他們知道， 成功迎來的就將是無與倫比的高度，即使面臨失敗，也意味着他們有偉大的嘗試 的勇氣。 今晚我向你們各位保證，只要我呼吸尚存，我就會繼續秉承這樣的信仰。我將會繼續爲我的信仰奮鬥,不論我是一個衆議員、參議員、副總統又或者總統， 這個信仰一直未變，就是對於和平、繁榮、公正和機遇的願景，這不僅是對於美 國,更是對於全世界。 在所有目標中， 這個信仰是我矢志不渝投入的，並且我將會爲之奉獻我的一 生。 當我五年前第一次看見總統宣言的時候，我許下了這個莊嚴神聖的承諾：把 我的任期、我的能量和我所有的智慧致力於和平事業。對於這個承諾，我已經盡 了我最大的努力。 我自信， 這些努力帶來的是一個不僅對於美國人民而是對於世 界來說的更加和平的環境， 可以讓更多孩子可以有更好的生活的條件而不是面臨 着戰爭中的死亡。　　這願望超越了所有， 是我在我總統任期內最渴望達成的。 這願望超越了所有， 是我最希望在我辭職之後給予你們的。 就任總統意味着跟每個美國人建立起親密的關係。 而離開它,我有一個祈禱: 在有未來的日子裏，願上帝的恩典與你同在。