30 位名人故事（上）
1. George Washington: The Father of the Country
There may be no greater American than George Washington. Washington became the first
United States President in 1789 with his unanimous victory in the first American election.
He was also unanimously elected to a second term in 1793, the only president ever to
garner 100 percent of the electoral votes. Washington was also the Commander-in-Chief
of the First Continental Army that fought the British when the country was not yet
established.
His epic "Crossing of the Delaware" river to recover New York City is still considered one
of the greatest military moves in the history of warfare. At the time of the crossing, the
British had taken Boston and New York. The Continental Army was on the run and
disorganized, but Washington had a plan. He decided to take his troops across the
Delaware River in the middle of winter. This was a move that many military minds thought
impossible, but not Washington. The Americans were able to take New Jersey, and change
the course of the war.
Another landmark moment for Washington was the winter at Valley Forge. In 1777,
Washington led an army of more than 11,000 troops into Valley Forge in Pennsylvania,
where the army suffered through a cold winter that claimed the lives of 3,000 men. When
the spring arrived, instead of a demoralized, beaten group of soldiers, the army emerged
battle ready, and able to continue the fight against the English in New York. The army was
able to survive the fierce winter because of the training, and preparedness of Washington's
officers. Washington earned the nickname, "The Father of His Country," because of his
military intelligence that led to the birth of the nation.
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2. Henry Ford: The Founder of Ford Motor Company
Henry Ford was an American inventor who is credited with inventing the automobile
assembly line. German automaker, Karl Benz, is credited with inventing the first motor
vehicle in the late 1880s, but Ford was the man who made it possible for everyday citizens
to own one. Before Ford came up with his assembly line process, cars were built one at a
time by hand, which was a very costly and inefficient method of production. Ford's
assembly line revolutionized the way cars were built, and his methods are still in use today.
In 1886, Benz patented his Motorwagen, which was a four-wheel, two-passenger, selfpowered motor coach that was designed to replace the horse and carriage. These vehicles
were expertly crafted, but were available to only the wealthiest people of the time. Thanks
to Ford, that all changed in 1906. His Ford Motor Company, the first automobile company
to use assembly line techniques to build cars. transformed the automobile from an
expensive curiosity to a practical tool that could be used to transport people and goods
easily and efficiently. His first mass-produced product was the Model T. It remains one of
the most sold vehicles ever, and was the first to reach 15 million sales.
Ford's impact on the 20th Century cannot be overstated. At one time it was estimated that
nine out of 10 vehicles on American roads were Fords. His cars spurred the American
economy like no other single factor. The country's roadways were built in response to the
great number of vehicles Ford and subsequent American automakers produced.
Additionally, Ford's vehicles created a network of support industries such as parts, repair,
and maintenance services. It also caused a revolution in how goods were transported in
the country. Henry Ford was a true American icon.
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3. Martin Luther King Jr.: Civil Rights Leader
Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most famous Americans ever. He was a pastor, and a
humanitarian, but is known mostly for being a civil rights activist. King was the leader of
the African-American Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 60s. His use of nonviolent protest to affect social change was based on his Christian beliefs. King was born
Michael King, but his father changed his name in honor of the German reformer, Martin
Luther.
The white and the southern culture in the United States wanted nothing to do with social
change during the 60s. Segregation laws were in place that prohibited black Americans
from eating at the same restaurants as whites, or to ride in the same section on public
buses with white Americans. King led the famous 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott in
reaction to Rosa Park's refusal to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger as was
required by law in Montgomery, Alabama at the time.
King started his activism while serving as a Baptist minister for the Dexter Avenue Baptist
Church. He believed strongly in the Christian belief that loving thy neighbor as yourself,
which was a philosophy he used throughout his civil rights years. He was also a great
speaker. His "I Have a Dream" speech is regarded as one of the most famous oratory in
American history. In it, he speaks of how his dream is for white and black Americans to
walk together hand in hand as brothers. The speech also declared how it was his dream
for all Americans to be judged, not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their
character.
On October 14, 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his involvement in
combating racial inequality in the United States. He was assassinated in April, 1968, in
Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 39.
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4. Bill Gates: The Man behind Microsoft
Bill Gates is an American inventor, computer programmer, philanthropist, and
businessman, who was born in Seattle, Washington. He is reportedly worth nearly $80
billion, making him one of the wealthiest people in the country. He founded, and was head
of Microsoft Corporation for years, and is still on the board for the computer software giant.
Gates was born to an upper-middle class family. His father was an attorney; his mother
was a banker, who worked for the United Way for many years. He is credited for being the
father of the modern computer, and for almost single-handedly starting the personal
computer revolution. He studied at Harvard University, but did not graduate because of his
desire to develop new software.
As a 13-year-old student at the Lakeside School, which was an exclusive college
preparatory school, Gates was introduced to computer programming. That year he
developed a program that allowed users to play tic-tac-toe against the computer. Gates
was reportedly fascinated by the computer's ability to reproduce software code. In 1975,
Gates approached a company called Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS).
He convinced the owner that he had written a program that would work with his platform.
The owner of the company bought into Gates innovations, and the two men reached an
agreement to develop software for MITS. The Microsoft Company was born.
Gates went on to develop the Windows operating system with then partner IBM
Corporation. The two companies had differences though, and their partnership ended
quickly. Gates left Microsoft in 2000, but remains on its board of directors. He remained
active with the company for several years before stepping down in February 2014,
becoming Technical Advisor for the firm.
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5. Michael Jordan: A Famous Basketball Star
Many American basketball fans would argue that Michael Jordan is by far the greatest
player ever to play in the National Basketball Association. The professional basketball
league has existed since 1947, and there have been many individual players that have
excelled in the game. Players such as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar,
and Jerry West had made their mark in the league long before Jordan ever played the
game.
To be sure, Jordan had a great impact on the game primarily during his playing years with
the Chicago Bulls. Jordan led the team to six championship finals, winning all six during
the 1990s. His legend is firmly cemented into the history of the great city, and many fans
feel he has no equal. It is hard to argue against Jordan in light of his success in all the titles
he achieved, but basketball is a team sport, and winning a championship needs a team
effort. There have been countless superstars who played in the league that did not have
good teammates, and never won a title. Chamberlain falls into that category.
Chamberlain did win two NBA titles in his career, but no one in the game ever dominated
it the way he did. He holds several league records, one of which is that he is the only player
ever to score 100 points in a single game. However, when Chamberlain played the game,
the NBA was not as big as it was in the 90s. During the 90s, the league enjoyed a much
greater popularity among American viewers, and much of this can be attributed to the
greatness of Michael Jordan. Jordan brought a style of play that had rarely been seen in
the NBA. He garnered many individual awards during his career. He played his last few
seasons as a member of the Washington Bullets.
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6. Babe Ruth: The Greatest Baseball Player
Arguably the greatest Major League Baseball player of all time is George Herman Ruth.
The "Babe," as he was known, is largely responsible for building the game as it exists today.
The stadium where he played in New York is commonly called "The House that Ruth Built."
Ruth played baseball for 22 years for the Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees,
where he rewrote the record books. He almost single-handedly invented the home run,
which is baseball's most cherished feat. Before Ruth, the home run was a novelty. It was
a game of strategy, but the Babe changed all that.
Ruth was born in a rough section of Baltimore, Maryland in 1895. Much of his childhood
has been lost to history. He spent a number of years at St. Mary's reformatory school after
being labeled as "incorrigible." His behavior was thought to be beyond rehabilitation. When
exactly he got his start in baseball is also a mystery. Some accounts offer that he was
placed on St. Mary's baseball team by the coach of the time. One popular story has Ruth
being sent to the school because of his natural ability to hit a baseball. The story is that
Ruth broke many windows while playing baseball on the streets, and that is why he was
sent to the school in the first place.
Before the 1920s, baseball was a slow game that included advancing players around the
bases by strategically hitting the ball within the park. Ruth came in and was soon hitting
balls out of the ballpark to the delight of the fans in attendance. The home run became an
integral part of the game. Ruth earned several nicknames because of his power, including
the "Bambino," and the "Sultan of Swat."
When Ruth was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees in a very unpopular move, the
Yankees won seven World Series championships in his 12 years. Ruth made headlines for
his after-hours antics in New York City as well. His drinking, and womanizing are welldocumented. However, Ruth was a spiritual man who lived-out his years as a devout
Catholic.
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7. Kobe Bryant: The Incredible Basketball Star
Kobe Bryant is a professional basketball player, who played his entire career with the Los
Angeles Lakers. He first joined the team as a 17-year-old teenager in 1996. During the
time, Bryant led the Lakers to five National Basketball Association titles. The most recent
championship was in 2010, when the Lakers beat their arch rival, the Boston Celtics. The
Lakers also won seven western conference titles and eight Pacific Division titles during
Bryant's time.
The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA. They have
appeared in 31 championship finals, more than any other teams in the league. The team
has won more regular season games than any other franchise. It is clearly one of the
premier NBA organizations, which came into existence in 1946.
Before Bryant, the Lakers already had some of the most notable superstars the league has
ever known. Players such as George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and
Magic Johnson. Bryant had been central in establishing, and maintaining the legacy of this
great team. He is the latest, and possible greatest of them all.
His individual statistics are astounding. He is the youngest player ever to score 30,000
points. He has been selected to the NBA's All Star team every year he has played, with
the exception of his rookie season. He has won two Olympic Gold Medals in Basketball,
leading the United States Olympic titles in 2008 in Beijing, and in the London games of
2012. In 2006, Bryant became the 2nd player in the history of the game to score more than
80 points in a single game. Only Chamberlain has scored more. He holds several Laker
individual records, including most seasons played, most All Star selections, most points
scored, and most playoff games played.
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8. Tiger Woods: A Great American Golf Champion
Golf is one of the most popular games in the United States today. There have been many
great champions over the years like Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus, but none has seen
success like Tiger Woods. His father was black; his mother was Thai. He was born and
lived his early life in Thailand.
Woods joined the pro golf tour at the age of 20 in 1996, where he began setting records
for winning championships at a young age. He was one of the most promising young stars
to hit the tour in years, which led to Woods acquiring several, lucrative contracts with Nike,
and Titleist. Woods became a very young millionaire. In 2001, Woods became the first
player in history to hold the title in all four major golf tournaments. It seemed there was
nothing this young man could not accomplish.
Woods grew up in Orange County, California, and studied for two years at prestigious
Stanford University. Woods began playing golf at an early age, and before long was
winning amateur championships regularly. He was the Professional Golfers Association
(PGA) Rookie of the Year in 1996. He has been named PGA Player of the Year, and PGA
Tour Player of the Year, 11 times each. He has also led the tour as the biggest money
winner several years. He was married, and had two children. His life was presumed ideal,
but that changed in 2009.
Woods was exposed as a womanizer by several women, following an alleged affair with a
New York woman. Woods denied any wrongdoing, but eventually confessed to several
"indiscretions". The controversy kept gaining momentum, and it eventually led to his
divorce and the loss of endorsement money from the sponsors. Woods is back on the tour,
but has not regained his proficiency as before.
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9. Jesse Owens: The Man Who Defied Hitler
During the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, Chancellor Adolf Hitler vowed to use
the games to showcase Aryan superiority to the rest of the world. Hitler was convinced that
the white, Aryan male was part of the superior race, and promised his games would prove
this superiority on the Olympic stage. American track and field athlete, James "Jesse"
Owens, had a different idea.
Owens was an excellent athlete at Ohio State University during the early 1930s. During
one track meet in 1935, Owens set three world records, and tied another, in what has been
called "the greatest 45 minutes ever in sports." Although Owens found great success in his
athletic career, he grew up during a time in America when black people were still highly
discriminated against. Segregation laws were still in effect in many parts of the country,
and Owens felt this prejudice directly. He was not able to stay in the same hotel rooms as
his white teammates, nor was he allowed to eat at the same restaurants. Ironically, Owens
was treated better during his time at the 36th Olympics in Germany.
During the games, Hitler became annoyed that Owens was winning so many gold medals.
Owens was proving Hitler's racist claims and rhetoric as untrue. Hitler didn't like it. Owens
ended up winning four gold medals at these games. Hitler refused to shake his hand. One
of the defining moments of the games is when Owens was befriended by German athlete
Luz Long. Owens cherished his friendship with Long, especially because he knew that
Long could fall out of favor with Hitler's brutal regime.
Many German fans shook Owen's hands, even though Hitler did not, but when Owens
returned to the United States, he found not much had changed in there.
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10. Steven Spielberg: Hollywood's Best Director
One of the finest Hollywood directors in the history of the film industry is Steven Allan
Spielberg. Spielberg has directed some of the most significant and popular films in recent
Hollywood history. His list of films reads like a who's who in the movie industry. He has
directed such blockbusters as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters
of the Third Kind, Schindler's List, and Saving Private Ryan.
Born into a Jewish family on December 18, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the young Spielberg
showed an interest in filmmaking during his teen years. When he was 12 years old,
Spielberg created a nine-minute film to earn his photography badge in the Boy Scouts.
This was the first film he made. His parents divorced when he was 13, and Spielberg
moved with his family to California. After graduating from high school, he applied to the
University of Southern California (USC) to learn filmmaking, but did not graduate. Instead
he attended Long Beach State, where he earned his degree in Film Production and
Electronic Arts, 35 years after first attending college.
His early work was as a television writer, having written scripts for popular shows such as
Night Gallery, Marcus Welby, M.D., and Columbo in the 70s. His breakthrough film in
Hollywood was 1975's Jaws, which is one of the most popular, highest-grossing
blockbuster in the history of the Silver Screen. He followed the success of Jaws with
several films that have earned him a spot in Hollywood lore. His films have become
household names.
Spielberg shows no signs of slowing down. He is involved in several film projects as a
director, and a producer. Spielberg has been married twice, and has six children. He was
voted Forbes Magazine's Most Influential Celebrity in America in 2014. His personal wealth
is estimated to be more than $3 billion.
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11. Michael Jackson: A Controversial Pop Star
There may be no greater entertainer in the history of music in the United States than the
late Michael Jackson. The list of Jackson's peers in the industry is very short, to say the
least. Jackson began his career in the early 1970s as the youngest member of the musical
group The Jackson 5. Michael was the lead singer, and arguably the most talented of the
five brothers who made up the band. He was born on August 29, 1958 as the eighth child
of 10 in an African American family from Gary Indiana. The driving force behind the group's
success was their father, Joseph "Joe" Jackson. The group was very popular in its time,
but young Michael would go out on his own career soon after. He was a successful singer,
songwriter, actor, dancer, and businessman, but his career was not without controversy.
His album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time. It was released in 1982, and was
followed by a series of successful albums, films, music videos, and business ventures. In
1993 the first of several people came forward to accuse Jackson of sexually improper
conduct on a child. This and other accusations would haunt Jackson throughout his adult
life. Jackson also gained a reputation of strange behavior. One of the indelible images
often associated with Jackson is when he held his newborn child over a hotel balcony to
show it to his public.
It was rumored that Jackson bought the bones of the famous Elephant Man, slept in an
oxygen tent, and that he altered his appearance to appear white. His photographs from his
childhood and as a young adult show a very different Jackson. He married twice in his life
including a brief marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of the equally great musician,
Elvis Presley.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009, and even his death was not without controversy. His family
filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his doctor, who was subsequently found guilty.
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12. Mickey Mouse: The World Famous Cartoon Character
There is perhaps no greater American cartoon character than the world famous Mickey
Mouse. Mickey Mouse is a creation of the late Walt Disney, who pioneered the age of
theme parks into popular, American culture. Today, Mickey is the official mascot of the Walt
Disney Corporation. He is what is called an anthropomorphic character, which is a term
used to describe a non-human character that has human characteristics. Mickey can speak,
laugh, cry, and use his hands like a human. He also walks on two legs rather than four. His
trademark red shorts, large yellow shoes, white gloves, and over-sized mouse ears make
him one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in America, and in the world.
Mickey was created by Disney in 1928 in the short film Steamboat Willie. That film was the
first of 130 films starring the famous mouse. He has also starred in 10 full-length, feature
films. In the 1930s, Mickey began to appear in comic books, and on November 18, 1978
he got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He became the first cartoon character
to earn a star on the historic sidewalk. Ten of his films have been nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film with Lend a Paw winning the award. Walt
Disney received an Honorary Award for creating the character in 1932.
One of the most popular children's shows in American history was the "Mickey Mouse
Club," which ran from 1955 to 1996. Mickey has a girlfriend named Minnie Mouse, a dog
named Pluto, and a host of friends that include Donald, and Daisy Duck, who are stars on
their own.
Today, Mickey Mouse merchandise can be found world wide. He appears in all Disney
theme parks throughout the world. In 1988 Mickey made his last full-length film appearance
when he starred in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This was a significant occurrence because
it was the first time that Disney characters starred alongside Warner Brother's characters.
The two corporations had been long-time rivals.
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13. Jackie Robinson: Breaking the Color Line
There was a time in the United States when black people were not allowed to play the
game of baseball with white players. That was before the great Jackie Robinson broke
what was called the color line in baseball. Prior to April 15, 1947, Major League Baseball
was an exclusive "whites only" organization that barred black players from participation.
Black Americans could only play in the Negro Leagues that existed roughly between 1920
through 1948. Robinson, and the Brooklyn Dodgers, put an end to segregation in baseball
that year, and began a movement for racial equality in the United States.
Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919, but grew up in Pasadena,
California, near Los Angeles. He was an outstanding athlete who played baseball and
football for Pasadena City College, then at the University of California at Los Angeles
(UCLA). During his time with the Dodgers, the team won one championship, and appeared
in the World Series six times. From 1949 to 1954, Robinson was named to the All-Star
Team, and he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award. He was also named
the Baseball Rookie of the Year in 1947, the first year the award was given.
Today, Robinson is honored by every team in both the National and American Leagues on
Jackie Robinson Day. On that day, all MLB players wear the number 42 in honor of
Robinson. That number, used to be worn by Robinson, was retired universally by all
baseball teams, making it the first time any league has retired a number. No player on any
MLB team can ever wear that number again. Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame
in 1962. He died on October 24, 1972, and was posthumously awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal for his part in changing American
society.
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14. Van Halen: From Garage Band to Superstardom
Van Halen is to Rock ‘n' Roll as Cadillac is to automobiles. It is one of the most popular
bands ever to perform in the country, and is still going strong 40 years later. It is known as
one of the best bands ever to come from a garage-band background. Founded by brothers
Eddie and Alex Van Halen in their home in Pasadena, California in 1972, the band was
one of the top rock acts in the country, and is as popular today as it was then.
Eddie Van Halen is considered one of the best lead guitarists in the history of music by
many of his peers, while Alex was a superior drummer. Together, they formed the nucleus
of the popular band that also included bass guitarist, Michael Anthony, and vocalist, David
Lee Roth. The brothers were born in the Netherlands, and immigrated to the United States
when they were children. The two were inseparable, and developed an interest in music in
the mid-60s. They formed the band in 1972, using the name Genesis. They later changed
the name to Mammoth when Eddie discovered Genesis was already in use. Eventually
they renamed the band Van Halen.
According to popular legend, Van Halen was discovered by Gene Simmons of the rock
band Kiss, while they were performing at Gazzarri's on the Strip, a popular spot for heavy
metal rock bands in the 70s. They continued to play at gigs throughout Southern California
when they released their self-titled debut album Van Halen in 1978. The album peaked at
No. 19 on the Billboard list, and the band never looked back. Van Halen's greatest
commercial success was from 1978 through 1985, but their albums continue to sell. It has
garnered a cult-like following from several, younger generations of American Rock ‘n' Roll
fans.
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15. Jane Fonda: American Patriot or Traitor?
One of the most divisive eras in American history is the Vietnam era. The Vietnam era for
the United States ran roughly from 1960 through 1975. In the mid to late 60s, America's
involvement became a huge issue. The conflict in Vietnam was divisive for many reasons,
but mostly because of the public's perception that it was an immoral and illegal operation.
The other major factor was that the U.S. was still engaged in drafting young men into the
service of the country against their will.
One of Hollywood's major film stars of the time was Jane Fonda. Fonda came from
Hollywood movie royalty, being the daughter of the great actor, Henry Fonda. She won two
Oscars, seven Golden Globe awards, and an Emmy award through her long career. In the
60s she was a political activist who was against the war in Vietnam. She was very
outspoken against the conflict, as many celebrities were at the time.
In 1970, Fonda made headlines for a very different reason. She and two fellow actors
starred in an anti-war film that drew much controversy. In July of 1972, Fonda drew the
wrath of many Americans when she was photographed sitting with North Vietnamese Army
members on an anti-aircraft gun. That image soiled her reputation as an actress, and as a
true American. Many called Fonda a traitor for interacting with the enemy. Years later,
Fonda said that she was manipulated into taking that photo, but many Americans still have
their doubts.
During her trip to North Vietnam, which was at war with the U.S. backed South Vietnam,
Fonda made a number of radio broadcasts denouncing America's involvement in the war.
This further cemented her image as a traitor. However, there are many Americans who feel
she was a true patriot because she refused to stand still and spoke out against the war.
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