Watergate at 50: The political scandal that changed Washington

Friday, June 17, 2022 - 01:00

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 Today, June 17 marks the 50th anniversary of the Watergate scandal which was a major political scandal in the United States involving the administration of former US President Richard Nixon that led to Nixon's resignation.

今天是6月17日，是美国水门事件50周年纪念日。水门事件是美国前总统尼克松政府的重大政治丑闻，导致尼克松辞职。

Resignation /ˌrezɪɡˈneɪʃn/：n. 辞职； 辞职信，辞呈；顺从，听任；（棋）认输

The scandal stemmed from the Nixon administration's continual attempts to cover up its involvement in the June 17, 1972, break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Washington, D.C., Watergate Office Building. After the five perpetrators were arrested, the press and the US Justice Department connected the cash found on them at the time to the Committee for the Re-Election of the President.

1972年6月17日，民主党全国委员会总部位于华盛顿特区的水门办公室大楼遭到非法入侵，尼克松政府试图不断掩盖此事。五名犯罪者被捕后，媒体和美国司法部将他们身上发现的现金与总统连任委员会联系起来。

Stem from：起源于

perpetrator /ˈpɜːpətreɪtə(r)/ n.作恶者；行凶者；犯罪者 • the perpetrators of the crime 该项罪行的作恶者

Further investigations, along with revelations during subsequent trials of the burglars, led the U.S. House of Representatives to grant the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary additional investigation authority to probe into "certain matters within its jurisdiction", and the US Senate to create the US Senate Watergate Committee. Witnesses testified that Nixon had approved plans to cover up administration involvement in the break-in, and that there was a voice-activated taping system in the Oval Office.Throughout the investigation, the administration resisted its probes, which led to a constitutional crisis which prompted the House of Representatives in 1973 to commence an impeachment process against then President Nixon.

进一步的调查，以及随后对窃贼的审判中披露的信息，导致美国众议院授予美国众议院司法委员会额外的调查权，以调查“其管辖范围内的某些事项”，美国参议院成立了美国参议院水门事件委员会。目击者作证称，尼克松曾批准计划，掩盖政府参与了这次非法入侵，而且美国总统办公室里有一个声控录音系统。在整个调查过程中，政府拒绝进行调查，这导致了一场宪法危机，促使众议院在1973年启动了对时任总统尼克松的弹劾程序。

revelation  /ˌrevəˈleɪʃn/ n. 1.~ (about/concerning sth)~ (that...) 被暴露的真相；被曝光的秘闻•startling/sensational revelations about her private life 对她的私生活令人吃惊的╱轰动性的揭露2.~ (of sth) 披露；揭露•The company's financial problems followed the revelation of a major fraud scandal. 重大的欺诈丑闻被揭露之后，公司随之出现了财政问题。3.（上帝的）启示

COME AS/BE A REVELATION (TO SB) 让人大开眼界；令人耳目一新；出乎意料

subsequent /ˈsʌbsɪkwənt/adj.随后的；后来的；之后的；接后的 • subsequent generations 后代

trial /ˈtraɪəl/尝试，努力；审判；考验；顿顽

burglar/ˈbɜːɡlə(r)/  n. 破门盗贼；入室窃贼

Probe v. 调查，打探，探究；（用手指、细长工具等）探查，查看；搜寻，探索；侦察，侦探（敌情）n. 探究，详尽调查；（医生和科学家用的）探针； 航天探测器，太空探测器（=space probe）；探测仪，传感器，取样器

judiciary /dʒuˈdɪʃəri/n.（统称）审判人员；司法部；司法系统

jurisdiction /ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃn/ n.1.~ (over sb/sth)~ (of sb/sth) (to do sth) 司法权；审判权；管辖权。2.管辖区域；管辖范围

Oval Office：美国总统办公室

constitutional crisis：宪法性危机

commence /kəˈmens/[ V to inf ] ~ (with sth)开始发生；开始；着手• The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon. 会议定于午间召开。

Impeachment /ɪmˈpiːtʃmənt/n. 弹劾；控告；怀疑；指摘

The US Supreme Court ruled that Nixon had to release the Oval Office tapes to government investigators and the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment against the President for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress.

美国最高法院判决尼克松必须向政府调查人员公开总统办公室的录音，众议院司法委员会通过了对总统妨碍司法、滥用权力、藐视国会的3项弹劾条款。

Obstruction /əbˈstrʌkʃn/  n.阻挠，妨碍；堵塞；障碍物；阻塞，梗阻；（体育项目中的）阻挡犯规

contempt  /kənˈtempt/ n. 轻视，蔑视；忽视，不顾；藐视法庭  

英语链接：http://www.dailynews.lk/2022/06/17/world/281049/watergate-50-political-scandal-changed-washington