8 Mrs. President

Chapter 8 Mrs. President Abigail couldn't be in Philadelphia in 1797 when her husband was sworn in as the second president of the United States. She was caring for John's eighty-nine-year-old mother, who would die in her arms. John begged Abigail to join him. He wrote, "I

1797年，当阿比盖尔的丈夫宣誓就任美国第二任总统时，她并不在费城。 她在照顾约翰89岁的母亲，她的母亲将在她的怀抱中死去。 约翰恳求阿比盖尔加入他。 他写道：“我

never wanted your Advice and assistance more in my Life." Abigail had avoided Philadelphia for five years, and she dreaded the exhausting trip on terrible, muddy roads. But when Abigail arrived she swung into action! She got up at 5:00 a.m. to write letters, plan the day, and organize the servants. Breakfast was at eight. She saw guests from eleven to two and had dinner with the family at three. After that she visited wives of men in the government until sundown. In the evening she held dinners for important people. She also organized giant celebrations for New Year's Day and July Fourth. Despite her full days, she still remained the president's advisor. Her husband said, "I can do nothing without you." She was so involved, people called her "Mrs. President." As Abigail feared, the presidency came with

我这辈子从来没有像现在这样需要你的建议和帮助。” 阿比盖尔已经有五年不去费城了，她害怕在泥泞的道路上精疲力竭地旅行。 但阿比盖尔一到，她就开始行动了！她早上5点起床。 写信，计划一天，组织仆人。 八点钟吃早饭。她从11点到2点接待客人，并在3点与家人共进晚餐。 之后，她拜访政府官员的妻子，直到日落。 晚上她为重要人物举行晚宴。 她还组织了元旦和7月4日的大型庆祝活动。 尽管工作繁忙，她仍然是总统的顾问。 她的丈夫说：“没有你我什么都做不了。” 她非常投入，人们都叫她“夫人”。 总统”。正如阿比盖尔所担心的，总统职位随之而来

many problems. One was the threat of war with France. While trying to reason with the French, John created the Department of the Navy. Abigail thought he should declare war, but John disagreed. Within the United States, John was under constant attack from his political enemies, no matter what he did. Their harsh words were misery for Abigail. She thought criticizing the president was treason, even when she agreed with the criticism! During the summer of 1798, while at home at Peacefield, Abigail fell so sick she feared she might die. John was home with her and said it was the "most gloomy summer" of his life. Abigail was still not well when John had to go back to Philadelphia without her in the fall. But as soon as she felt better, Abigail was able to supervise the building of a new barn. When Abigail finally joined John in Philadelphia, she brought their son Thomas, their daughter Nabby, and Nabby's daughter Caroline.

许多问题。其一是与法国的战争威胁。 在试图与法国人讲理的同时，约翰创建了海军部。 阿比盖尔认为他应该宣战，但约翰不同意。 在美国国内，无论约翰做什么，他都不断受到政敌的攻击。 他们严厉的话语使阿比盖尔感到痛苦。 她认为批评总统是叛国，即使她同意这种批评！1798年夏天，在皮斯菲尔德的家中，阿比盖尔病得很重，她担心自己会死。 约翰当时在家陪她，他说那是他一生中“最阴郁的一个夏天”。 秋天约翰不得不独自回到费城时，阿比盖尔的身体还不太好。 但阿比盖尔一感觉好一点，就能监督新谷仓的建造了。 当阿比盖尔最终在费城与约翰团聚时，她带来了他们的儿子托马斯、女儿纳比和纳比的女儿卡罗琳。

Another election was coming up soon. Abigail feared that her husband wouldn't win a second term as president in 1800. She knew that he would take defeat very personally. Then in December 1799, George Washington died at age sixty-seven. The whole country went into mourning. He was known as the father of the country. Indeed, people felt that they had suffered a personal loss. Abigail said, "No man ever lived more deservedly beloved and respected." A new capital city, Washington, was planned in his honor. Washington was much farther south, near Virginia. A new house for the president was being built there. It later became known as the White House.

另一场选举即将到来。 1800年，阿比盖尔担心她的丈夫不会赢得总统第二任期。 她知道他会把失败看得很重。 1799年12月，乔治·华盛顿去世，享年67岁。 全国陷入哀悼。 他被称为国家之父。 事实上，人们觉得他们遭受了个人损失。 阿比盖尔说：“没有人比他更值得被人爱戴和尊敬。” 新首都华盛顿就是为了纪念他而规划的。 华盛顿更靠南，靠近弗吉尼亚。 那里正在为总统建造一座新房子。 它后来被称为白宫。

THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE BUILDING OF THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE BEGAN IN 1792 AND WAS DONE MOSTLY BY SLAVES AND IMMIGRANTS. IT TOOK EIGHT YEARS, AND IT STILL WASN'T FINISHED WHEN THE ADAMSES MOVED IN. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THREE STORIES HIGH AND MUCH BIGGER, BUT ITS SIZE HAD TO BE CUT BACK BECAUSE OF SHORTAGES OF MATERIALS AND LABOR. THE HOUSE WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED "THE PRESIDENT'S PALACE" OR

总统官邸的建筑始于1792年，主要由奴隶和移民完成。 它花了八年的时间，直到亚当斯一家搬进来，它仍然没有完工。 原来的建筑应该有三层楼高，而且要大得多，但由于材料和劳动力短缺，它的规模不得不缩小。 这座房子最初被称为“总统的宫殿”或

"THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE," BUT IN TIME PEOPLE CALLED IT "THE WHITE HOUSE" BECAUSE OF ITS WHITEWASHED COLOR. IN 1814, DURING THE WAR OF 1812, THE BRITISH RANSACKED AND BURNED DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE. NOTHING WAS LEFT EXCEPT THE OUTSIDE WALLS, AND THEY HAD TO BE TORN DOWN. IT TOOK ONLY TWO YEARS TO REBUILD. IT WAS FINISHED IN 1817, THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ADDITIONS TO IT SINCE THEN.

“总统的房子”，但后来人们称它为“白宫”，因为它是白色的。 1814年，在1812年战争期间，英国人洗劫并烧毁了白宫。 除了外墙，什么都没有留下，它们必须被拆除。 重建只花了两年时间。 它于1817年完工，但自那以后又进行了多次扩建。