30位美國名人故事（英文版）（上）

130位名人故事(上)theCountryUnitedStatesPresidentin1789withhisunanimousvictoryinthefirstAmericanelection.Hewasalsounanimouslyelectedtoasecondtermin1793,theonlypresidentevertogarner100percentoftheelectoralvotes.WashingtonwasalsotheCommander-in-ChiefoftheFirstContinentalArmythatfoughttheBritishwhenthecountrywasnotyetestablished.Hisepic"CrossingoftheDelaware"rivertorecoverNewYorkCityisstillconsideredoneofthegreatestmilitarymovesinthehistoryofwarfare.Atthetimeofthecrossing,theBritishhadtakenBostonandNewYork.TheContinentalArmywasontherunanddisorganized,butWashingtonhadaplan.HedecidedtotakehistroopsacrosstheDelawareRiverinthemiddleofwinterThiswasamovethatmanymilitarymindsthoughtthecourseofthewar.AnotherlandmarkmomentforWashingtonwasthewinteratValleyForge.In1777,Washingtonledanarmyofmorethan11,000troopsintoValleyForgeinPennsylvania,wherethearmysufferedthroughacoldwinterthatclaimedthelivesof3,000men.Whenthespringarrived,insteadofademoralized,beatengroupofsoldiers,thearmyemergedlishinNewYorkThearmywasofficers.Washingtonearnedthenickname,"TheFatherofHisCountry,"becauseofhismilitaryintelligencethatledtothebirthofthenation.2HenryFordTheFounderofFordMotorCompanyHenryFordwasanAmericaninventorwhoiscreditedwithinventingtheautomobileassemblyline.Germanautomaker,KarlBenz,iscreditedwithinventingthefirstmotortoownone.BeforeFordcameupwithhisassemblylineprocess,carswerebuiltoneatatimebyhand,whichwasaverycostlyandinefficientmethodofproduction.Ford'sIn1886,BenzpatentedhisMotorwagen,whichwasafour-wheel,two-passenger,self-wereexpertlycraftedbutwereavailabletoonlythewealthiestpeopleofthetime.ThankstoFord,thatallchangedin1906.HisFordMotorCompany,thefirstautomobilecompanytouseassemblylinetechniquestobuildcars.transformedtheautomobilefromanexpensivecuriositytoapracticaltoolthatcouldbeusedtotransportpeopleandgoodseasilyandefficiently.Hisfirstmass-producedproductwastheModelT.Itremainsoneofthemostsoldvehiclesever,andwasthefirsttoreach15millionsales.turycannotbeoverstatedAtonetimeitwasestimatedthatnineoutof10vehiclesonAmericanroadswereFords.HiscarsspurredtheAmericaneconomylikenoothersinglefactor.Thecountry'sroadwayswerebuiltinresponsetothegreatnumberofvehiclesFordandsubsequentAmericanautomakersproduced.Additionally,Ford'svehiclescreatedanetworkofsupportindustriessuchasparts,repair,andmaintenanceservices.ItalsocausedarevolutioninhowgoodsweretransportedinthecountryHenryFordwasatrueAmericanicon.3utherKingJrCivilRightsLeaderMartinLutherKingJr.isoneofthemostfamousAmericansever.Hewasapastor,andahumanitarian,butisknownmostlyforbeingacivilrightsactivist.KingwastheleaderoftheAfrican-AmericanCivilRightsMovementduringthe1950sand60s.Hisuseofnon-violentprotesttoaffectsocialchangewasbasedonhisChristianbeliefs.KingwasbornMichaelKing,buthisfatherchangedhisnameinhonoroftheGermanreformer,MartinutherThewhiteandthesoutherncultureintheUnitedStateswantednothingtodowithsocialchangeduringthe60s.SegregationlawswereinplacethatprohibitedblackAmericansfromeatingatthesamerestaurantsaswhites,ortorideinthesamesectiononpublicbuseswithwhiteAmericans.Kingledthefamous1955MontgomeryBusBoycottinreactiontoRosaPark'srefusaltosurrenderherbusseattoawhitepassengeraswasrequiredbylawinMontgomeryAlabamaatthetime.KingstartedhisactivismwhileservingasaBaptistministerfortheDexterAvenueBaptistChurch.HebelievedstronglyintheChristianbeliefthatlovingthyneighborasyourself,whichwasaphilosophyheusedthroughouthiscivilrightsyears.Hewasalsoagreatspeaker.His"IHaveaDream"speechisregardedasoneofthemostfamousoratoryinAmericanhistory.Init,hespeaksofhowhisdreamisforwhiteandblackAmericanstowalktogetherhandinhandasbrothers.ThespeechalsodeclaredhowitwashisdreamforallAmericanstobejudged,notbythecoloroftheirskin,butbythecontentoftheircharacter.OnOctober14,1964,KingwasawardedtheNobelPeacePrizeforhisinvolvementincombatingracialinequalityintheUnitedStates.HewasassassinatedinApril,1968,ineageof44.BillGates:TheManbehindMicrosoftBillGatesisanAmericaninventor,computerprogrammer,philanthropist,andbusinessman,whowasborninSeattle,Washington.Heisreportedlyworthnearly$80eopleinthecountryHefoundedandwasheadGateswasborntoanupper-middleclassfamily.Hisfatherwasanattorney;hismotheranyyearsHeiscreditedforbeingthefatherofthemoderncomputer,andforalmostsingle-handedlystartingthepersonalbecauseofhisdesiretodevelopnewsoftware.Asa13-year-oldstudentattheLakesideSchool,whichwasanexclusivecollegepreparatoryschool,Gateswasintroducedtocomputerprogramming.Thatyearhedevelopedaprogramthatalloweduserstoplaytic-tac-toeagainstthecomputer.Gateswasreportedlyfascinatedbythecomputer'sabilitytoreproducesoftwarecode.In1975,msMITSHeconvincedtheownerthathehadwrittenaprogramthatwouldworkwithhisplatform.TheownerofthecompanyboughtintoGatesinnovations,andthetwomenreachedanagreementtodevelopsoftwareforMITS.TheMicrosoftCompanywasborn.GateswentontodeveloptheWindowsoperatingsystemwiththenpartnerIBMCorporation.Thetwocompanieshaddifferencesthough,andtheirpartnershipendedquickly.GatesleftMicrosoftin2000,butremainsonitsboardofdirectors.HeremainedactivewiththecompanyforseveralyearsbeforesteppingdowninFebruary2014,dvisorforthefirm5asketballStarManyAmericanbasketballfanswouldarguethatMichaelJordanisbyfarthegreatestplayerevertoplayintheNationalBasketballAssociation.Theprofessionalbasketballleaguehasexistedsince1947,andtherehavebeenmanyindividualplayersthathaverandJerryWesthadmadetheirmarkintheleaguelongbeforeJordaneverplayedthegame.atimpactonthegameprimarilyduringhisplayingyearswiththeChicagoBulls.Jordanledtheteamtosixchampionshipfinals,winningallsixduringthe1990s.Hislegendisfirmlycementedintothehistoryofthegreatcity,andmanyfansheachieved,butbasketballisateamsport,andwinningachampionshipneedsateameffort.Therehavebeencountlesssuperstarswhoplayedintheleaguethatdidnothavegoodteammates,andneverwonatitle.Chamberlainfallsintothatcategory.ChamberlaindidwintwoNBAtitlesinhiscareer,butnooneinthegameeverdominatedrevertoscorepointsinasinglegameHoweverwhenChamberlainplayedthegame,theNBAwasnotasbigasitwasinthe90s.Duringthe90s,theleagueenjoyedamuchgreaterpopularityamongAmericanviewers,andmuchofthiscanbeattributedtothegreatnessofMichaelJordan.JordanbroughtastyleofplaythathadrarelybeenseenintheNBA.Hegarneredmanyindividualawardsduringhiscareer.HeplayedhislastfewseasonsasamemberoftheWashingtonBullets.6BabeRuthTheGreatestBaseballPlayerArguablythegreatestMajorLeagueBaseballplayerofalltimeisGeorgeHermanRuth.Ruthplayedbaseballfor22yearsfortheBostonRedSox,andtheNewYorkYankees,whereherewrotetherecordbooks.Healmostsingle-handedlyinventedthehomerun,whichisbaseball'smostcherishedfeat.BeforeRuth,thehomerunwasanovelty.Itwasagameofstrategy,buttheBabechangedallthat.RuthwasborninaroughsectionofBaltimore,Marylandin1895.MuchofhischildhoodMarysreformatoryschoolafterexactlyhegothisstartinbaseballisalsoamystery.SomeaccountsofferthathewasplacedonSt.Mary'sbaseballteambythecoachofthetime.OnepopularstoryhasRuthbeingsenttotheschoolbecauseofhisnaturalabilitytohitabaseball.ThestoryisthatRuthbrokemanywindowswhileplayingbaseballonthestreets,andthatiswhyhewassenttotheschoolinthefirstplace.Beforethe1920s,baseballwasaslowgamethatincludedadvancingplayersaroundthebasesbystrategicallyhittingtheballwithinthepark.Ruthcameinandwassoonhittingballsoutoftheballparktothedelightofthefansinattendance.Thehomerunbecameanuthearnedseveralnicknamesbecauseofhispowerincludingthe"Bambino,"andthe"SultanofSwat."WhenRuthwastradedbytheRedSoxtotheYankeesinaveryunpopularmove,thehisafter-hoursanticsinNewYorkCityaswell.Hisdrinking,andwomanizingarewell-documented.However,Ruthwasaspiritualmanwholived-outhisyearsasadevoutCatholic.7eBryantTheIncredibleBasketballStarKobeBryantisaprofessionalbasketballplayer,whoplayedhisentirecareerwiththeLosAngelesLakers.Hefirstjoinedtheteamasa17-year-oldteenagerin1996.Duringthetime,BryantledtheLakerstofiveNationalBasketballAssociationtitles.Themostrecentchampionshipwasin2010,whentheLakersbeattheirarchrival,theBostonCeltics.TheLakersalsowonsevenwesternconferencetitlesandeightPacificDivisiontitlesduringBryant'stime.TheLakersareoneofthemostsuccessfulteamsinthehistoryoftheNBA.Theyhaveappearedin31championshipfinals,morethananyotherteamsintheleague.Theteamhaswonmoreregularseasongamesthananyotherfranchise.ItisclearlyoneoftheremierNBAorganizationswhichcameintoexistenceinfthisgreatteam.Heisthelatest,andpossiblegreatestofthemall.Hisindividualstatisticsareastounding.Heistheyoungestplayerevertoscore30,000points.HehasbeenselectedtotheNBA'sAllStarteameveryyearhehasplayed,withtheexceptionofhisrookieseason.HehaswontwoOlympicGoldMedalsinBasketball,leadingtheUnitedStatesOlympictitlesin2008inBeijing,andintheLondongamesof80pointsinasinglegame.OnlyChamberlainhasscoredmore.HeholdsseveralLakerindividualrecords,includingmostseasonsplayed,mostAllStarselections,mostpointsscored,andmostplayoffgamesplayed.8GolfisoneofthemostpopulargamesintheUnitedStatestoday.TherehavebeenmanyckNicklausbutnonehasseensuccesslikeTigerWoods.Hisfatherwasblack;hismotherwasThai.HewasbornandlivedhisearlylifeinThailand.Woodsjoinedtheprogolftourattheageof20in1996,wherehebegansettingrecordshemostpromisingyoungstarsontractswithNikeandTitleist.Woodsbecameaveryyoungmillionaire.In2001,Woodsbecamethefirstplayerinhistorytoholdthetitleinallfourmajorgolftournaments.Itseemedtherewasnothingthisyoungmancouldnotaccomplish.WoodsgrewupinOrangeCounty,California,andstudiedfortwoyearsatprestigiousStanfordUniversity.Woodsbeganplayinggolfatanearlyage,andbeforelongwaswinningamateurchampionshipsregularly.HewastheProfessionalGolfersAssociationieoftheYearinHehasbeennamedPGAPlayeroftheYearandPGATourPlayeroftheYear,11timeseach.Hehasalsoledthetourasthebiggestmoneywinnerseveralyears.Hewasmarried,andhadtwochildren.Hislifewaspresumedideal,butthatchangedin2009.WoodswasexposedasawomanizerbyseveralwomenfollowinganallegedaffairwithaNewYorkwoman.Woodsdeniedanywrongdoing,buteventuallyconfessedtoseveral"indiscretions".Thecontroversykeptgainingmomentum,anditeventuallyledtohisbuthasnotregainedhisproficiencyasbefore.9esseOwensTheManWhoDefiedHitlerllorAdolfHitlervowedtousepartofthesuperiorraceandpromisedhisgameswouldprovethissuperiorityontheOlympicstage.Americantrackandfieldathlete,James"Jesse"Owens,hadadifferentidea.OwenswasanexcellentathleteatOhioStateUniversityduringtheearly1930s.Duringathleticcareer,hegrewupduringatimeinAmericawhenblackpeoplewerestillhighlydiscriminatedagainst.Segregationlawswerestillineffectinmanypartsofthecountry,andOwensfeltthisprejudicedirectly.Hewasnotabletostayinthesamehotelroomsaswastreatedbetterduringhistimeatthe36thOlympicsinGermany.manygoldmedalsOwenswasprovingHitlersracistclaimsandrhetoricasuntrueHitlerdidn'tlikeit.OwensdalsatthesegamesHitlerrefusedtoshakehishandOneofthedefiningmomentsofthegamesiswhenOwenswasbefriendedbyGermanathleteLuzLong.OwenscherishedhisfriendshipwithLong,especiallybecauseheknewthatLongcouldfalloutoffavorwithHitler'sbrutalregime.ManyGermanfansshookOwen'shands,eventhoughHitlerdidnot,butwhenOwensreturnedtotheUnitedStates,hefoundnotmuchhadchangedinthere.HollywoodsBestDirectorOneofthefinestHollywooddirectorsinthehistoryofthefilmindustryisStevenAllanSpielberg.SpielberghasdirectedsomeofthemostsignificantandpopularfilmsinrecentHollywoodhistory.Hislistoffilmsreadslikeawho'swhointhemovieindustry.HehasdirectedsuchblockbustersasE.T.theExtra-Terrestrial,JurassicPark,CloseEncountersoftheThirdKind,Schindler'sList,andSavingPrivateRyan.BornintoaJewishfamilyonDecember18,1946inCincinnati,Ohio,theyoungSpielbergshowedaninterestinfilmmakingduringhisteenyears.Whenhewas12yearsold,Spielbergcreatedanine-minutefilmtoearnhisphotographybadgeintheBoyScouts.Thiswasthefirstfilmhemade.Hisparentsdivorcedwhenhewas13,andSpielbergmovedwithhisfamilytoCalifornia.Aftergraduatingfromhighschool,heappliedtotheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia(USC)tolearnfilmmaking,butdidnotgraduate.InsteadheattendedLongBeachState,whereheearnedhisdegreeinFilmProductionandElectronicArts,35yearsafterfirstattendingcollege.Hisearlyworkwasasatelevisionwriter,havingwrittenscriptsforpopularshowssuchasNightGallery,MarcusWelby,M.D.,andColumbointhe70s.HisbreakthroughfilminHollywoodwas1975'sJaws,whichisoneofthemostpopular,highest-grossingblockbusterinthehistoryoftheSilverScreen.HefollowedthesuccessofJawswithseveralfilmsthathaveearnedhimaspotinHollywoodlore.Hisfilmshavebecomehouseholdnames.Spielbergshowsnosignsofslowingdown.Heisinvolvedinseveralfilmprojectsasadirector,andaproducer.Spielberghasbeenmarriedtwice,andhassixchildren.Hewasisestimatedtobemorethan$3billion.TheremaybenogreaterentertainerinthehistoryofmusicintheUnitedStatesthanthelateMichaelJackson.ThelistofJackson'speersintheindustryisveryshort,tosaythegroupTheJackson5.Michaelwastheleadsinger,andarguablythemosttalentedofthefivebrotherswhomadeuptheband.HewasbornonAugust29,1958astheeighthchildsuccesswastheirfather,Joseph"Joe"Jackson.Thegroupwasverypopularinitstime,ingerdancerandbusinessmanbuthiscareerwasnotwithoutcontroversyHisalbumThrilleristhebest-sellingalbumofalltime.Itwasreleasedin1982,andwasfollowedbyaseriesofsuccessfulalbums,films,musicvideos,andbusinessventures.In1993thefirstofseveralpeoplecameforwardtoaccuseJacksonofsexuallyimproperconductonachild.ThisandotheraccusationswouldhauntJacksonthroughouthisadultlife.Jacksonalsogainedareputationofstrangebehavior.OneoftheindelibleimagesoftenassociatedwithJacksoniswhenheheldhisnewbornchildoverahotelbalconytoshowittohispublic.ItwasrumoredthatJacksonboughtthebonesofthefamousElephantMan,sleptinanchildhoodandasayoungadultshowaverydifferentJackson.HemarriedtwiceinhislifemusicianisPresleyfiledawrongfuldeathlawsuitagainsthisdoctorwhowassubsequentlyfoundguilty.dFamousCartoonCharacterThereisperhapsnogreaterAmericancartooncharacterthantheworldfamousMickeyMouse.MickeyMouseisacreationofthelateWaltDisney,whopioneeredtheageofDisneyCorporation.Heiswhatiscalledananthropomorphiccharacter,whichisatermpeaktrademarkredshorts,largeyellowshoes,whitegloves,andover-sizedmouseearsmakehimoneofthemostrecognizablecartooncharactersinAmerica,andintheworld.firstof130filmsstarringthefamousmouse.Hehasalsostarredin10full-length,featurefilms.Inthe1930s,Mickeybegantoappearincomicbooks,andonNovember18,1978toearnastaronthehistoricsidewalk.TenofhisfilmshavebeennominatedfortheAcademyAwardforBestAnimatedShortFilmwithLendaPawwinningtheaward.WaltDisneyreceivedanHonoraryAwardforcreatingthecharacterin32.Oneofthemostpopularchildren'sshowsinAmericanhistorywasthe"MickeyMouseClub,"whichranfrom1955to1996.MickeyhasagirlfriendnamedMinnieMouse,adognamedPlutoandahostoffriendsthatincludeDonaldandDaisyDuck,whoarestarsontheirown.Today,MickeyMousemerchandisecanbefoundworldwide.HeappearsinallDisneyncesignificantoccurrencebecauseitwasthefirsttimethatDisneycharactersstarredalongsideWarnerBrother'scharacters.Thetwocorporationshadbeenlong-timerivals.onBreakingtheColorLineTherewasatimeintheUnitedStateswhenblackpeoplewerenotallowedtoplaythegameofbaseballwithwhiteplayers.ThatwasbeforethegreatJackieRobinsonbrokewhatwascalledthecolorlineinbaseball.PriortoApril15,1947,MajorLeagueBaseballwasanexclusive"whitesonly"organizationthatbarredblackplayersfromparticipation.donlyplayintheNegroLeaguesthatexistedroughlybetweenklynDodgersputanendtosegregationinbaseballthatyear,andbeganamovementforracialequalityintheUnitedStates.RobinsonwasborninCairo,GeorgiaonJanuary31,1919,butgrewupinPasadena,California,nearLosAngeles.HewasanoutstandingathletewhoplayedbaseballandfootballforPasadenaCityCollege,thenattheUniversityofCaliforniaatLosAngelesintheWorldSeriessixtimes.From1949to1954,RobinsonwasnamedtotheAll-StareagueMostValuablePlayerAwardHewasalsonamedtheBaseballRookieoftheYearin1947,thefirstyeartheawardwasgiven.JackieRobinsonDay.Onthatday,allMLBplayerswearthenumber42inhonorofRobinson.Thatnumber,usedtobewornbyRobinson,wasretireduniversallybyallhasretiredanumberNoplayeronanyeHallofFamein1962.HediedonOctober24,1972,andwasposthumouslyawardedthePresidentialMedalofFreedomandtheCongressionalGoldMedalforhispartinchangingAmericanocietyrstardomVanHalenistoRock‘n'RollasCadillacistoautomobiles.ItisoneofthemostpopulartryandisstillgoingstrongyearslaterItisknownasEddieandAlexVanHalenintheirhomeinPasadena,Californiain1972,thebandwasoneofthetoprockactsinthecountry,andisaspopulartodayasitwasthen.EddieVanHalenisconsideredoneofthebestleadguitaristsinth