原文赏析

As Governor of New York, Roosevelt passes laws clamping down on big business.
作为纽约州长 罗斯福通过了取缔大企业的法律
His biggest targets are the nation's most powerful monopolies and the men behind them.
他最大的目标是全国最大的垄断企业及其幕后人士
But Rockefeller and Morgan know they can't buy Roosevelt so they set out to make him as weak as possible.
但洛克菲勒和摩根知道他们收买不了罗斯福 于是下决心尽可能弱化他
One way to figure out how to keep Roosevelt from becoming a major figure at the national level is to make him Vice President.
一种避免让他成为国家层面的重要人物的方法就是让他当上副总统
Because the Vice President doesn't really have much to do.
因为副总统真的没有多少实权
Heading into a new election year it's a rematch of 1896.
又是一个选举年 是1896年的二次选举
McKinley versus William Jennings Bryan.
依然是麦金莱对威廉·詹宁斯·布赖恩
Through a series of backroom deals, some of the nation's richest and most powerful men convince McKinley to put Roosevelt on the ticket.
一系列的幕后交易之后 全国最富有和最强大的一些人说服麦金莱让罗斯福参选副总统
The vice presidency, in those days, was a place where people went to disappear.
那个时候的副总统是一个让人养老的职位
They became vice president, were never heard from again.
当了副总统之后也就没了音信
It was almost like a modern witness protection program.
就像现在的证人保护计划里的证人一样
McKinley is re-elected by a comfortable margin and Roosevelt is sworn in as Vice President.
麦金莱比较轻松地重新当选 罗斯福也宣誓就职成为副总统
With their man still in the White House and their nemesis in a powerless position, Rockefeller and Morgan think they have protected their empires.
既然白宫还是他们的人 而其克星又在一个没有实权的位置 洛克菲勒和摩根认为 这下他们的帝国是保住了
But their clever ploy may backfire.
但他们的如意算盘效果可能会适得其反

视频资料
视频资料:
洛克菲勒、范德比尔特、卡内基、阿斯托、福特和摩根，他们的名字几乎是美国梦的近义词，也代表着美国梦的历史。他们转变了他们所接触的每个行业：石油、铁路、钢铁、船运、汽车，还有金融。他们的付出改变了一个国家。出身贫寒，他们却多次涉足总统选举，设立经济政策，影响他们那个年代——内战到大萧条时期。他们，被称为造就美国的人。

重点讲解

讲解：
swear sb in | ?swear sb into sth
使某人宣誓就职；使某人宣誓忠于某组织(或国家等):
He was sworn in as president.
他宣誓就任总统。

target (for sb / sth) | ~ (of sth)
(攻击的)目标,对象:
Doors and windows are an easy target for burglars.
门窗被窃贼作为入室的目标容易得手。

backfire (on sb)
产生事与愿违的不良(或危险)后果:
Unfortunately the plan backfired on us.
不幸的是,计划产生了适得其反的结果。

by a margin
(获胜者在时间或票数上领先的)幅度,差额,差数:
He won by a narrow margin.
他以微小的差额获胜。

on the ticket
(政党在选举中所支持的)候选人名单:
She ran for office on the Democratic ticket.
她作为民主党的候选人参加竞选。

clamp down (on sb / sth)
严厉打击(犯罪等):
A campaign by police to clamp down on street crime is underway.
警方开始了严厉打击街头犯罪的运动。