VOA常速英语：下周的总统候选人辩论可能会创造观看历史

Americans are preparing for the first of three debates involving the candidates for president.
美国人正在筹备三场总统候选人辩论中的首场辩论。
The first debate takes place on September 26. It will be held at Hofstra University in the city of Hempstead, New York.
首场辩论将于9月26日在纽约州亨普斯特德市的霍夫斯特拉大学举行。
The first debate will include the candidates of the two main parties. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the nominee of the Democratic Party. The Republican candidate is businessman Donald Trump.
首场辩论将囊括美国两家主要政党的候选人。前国务卿希拉里·克林顿(Hillary Clinton)是民主党总统提名人，共和党总统候选人是商人唐纳德·川普(Donald Trump)。
The other parties will not be represented at the first debate. The Libertarian Party, for example, has nominated former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson as its presidential candidate. The Green Party chose Jill Stein, who also served as its candidate in the 2012 elections.
其它党派不会参加首场辩论。自由党提名了前墨西哥州长加里·约翰逊(Gary Johnson)为该党的总统候选人，绿党选择了吉尔·斯坦(Jill Stein)，他也是该党2012年大选的总统候选人。
The moderator of the first debate will be television news anchor Lester Holt.
第一场辩论的主持人是电视新闻主播莱斯特·霍尔特(Lester Holt)。
The debate will be 90 minutes long. The three topics for debate will be America's direction, achieving prosperity and securing America. Each topic will be debated for close to 30 minutes.
这场辩论将耗时90分钟，三项辩论主题将是美国的发展方向、实现繁荣和保障美国安全。每项主题将辩论近30分钟。
Holt will begin each topic with a question, and each candidate will have two minutes to respond. Candidates will also have the opportunity to respond to each other.
霍尔特会以一道问题来开启每项主题，每位候选人将会有两分钟时间回应。候选人还会有机会回应对方。
Many think the first debate could make history by drawing the largest audience ever to watch an American political event.
许多人认为首场辩论可能会吸引有史以来观看美国政治活动最多的观众，从而创造历史。
History of presidential debates
总统辩论的历史
American presidential debates and the media have a 56-year history. In 1960, Republican Vice President Richard Nixon debated Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy.
美国总统辩论和媒体拥有56年历史。1960年，共和党副总统理查德·尼克松(Richard Nixon)同参议员约翰·F·肯尼迪(John F. Kennedy)展开了辩论。
The subject of the debate was domestic policy. The issues they discussed included education, health care, farming, the economy, labor and the Cold War.
那次辩论的主题是国内政策。他们讨论了包括教育、医疗、农业、经济、劳工和冷战等问题。
But what the 1960 debates showed was how television was changing politics. In the first debate, radio listeners said Nixon won. Those who watched on television said Kennedy was the better debater.
但是1960年的这场辩论展示了电视如何改变政治。在首场辩论中，广播听众说尼克松赢了。电视观众说肯尼迪表现更好。
The difference in the audience's perceptions had to do with the candidates' appearances. Kennedy looked tanned and youthful on television. Nixon wore a gray suit that blended into the television studio background. Nixon – who was recovering from an illness -- also looked pale and thin.
观众感受的差异同这两位总统候选人的外表有关。肯尼迪在电视上看上去皮肤黝黑并且显得年轻。尼克松身穿了一件融入电视演播室背景的灰色西装，他当时刚大病初愈，看上去脸色苍白并且瘦弱。
A few months later, Kennedy won a narrow victory in the election.
几个月之后，肯尼迪在大选中险胜。
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter debated challenger Ronald Reagan. Carter led in the political polls before the debate.
1980年，吉米·卡特(Jimmy Carter)总统同挑战者罗纳德·里根(Ronald Reagan)辩论。卡特在辩论前的民调中领先。
But Reagan was a former actor and comfortable in front of a studio camera. Reagan's relaxed performance during the debate helped secure him an easy victory.
但是里根做过演员，在演播室镜头前很适应。里根在辩论期间的的放松表现帮助他轻松获胜。
The 1992 debates featured three candidates. President George H.W. Bush faced challengers Bill Clinton and Ross Perot.
1992年这场辩论的特色是有三位候选人。乔治·H.W·布什(George H.W. Bush)总统面临比尔·克林顿(Bill Clinton)和罗斯·佩罗(Ross Perot)的挑战。
During their conversation, Bush checked his watch. Some thought Bush's glance at his watch as a sign he was bored with the debate.
在他们对话期间，布什看了下手表。有人认为布什瞟了一眼手表是他厌烦了辩论的标志。
Bill Clinton went on to win that election.
克林顿接下来赢得了那次总统大选。
I'm Bruce Alpert.
布鲁斯·阿尔珀特报道。