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November 22
Margaret Thatcher on her way to Buckingham Palace to inform the Queen of
her resignation
1990: Thatcher quits as prime minister
England have
Margaret Thatcher is to stand down as prime minister after her Cabinet
refused to back her in a second round of leadership elections.
She will remain in office until a successor is elected, but will not
continue to fight Michael Heseltine for the Conservative Party leadership.
The former secretary of state for the environment threw down the gauntlet
after a string of serious disputes over Britain"s involvement in the European
Union.
The prime minister said pressure from colleagues had forced her to conclude
that party unity and the prospect of victory in the next general election would
be better served if she stepped down.
Downing Street issued a statement at 0930 GMT after Mrs Thatcher had
informed her Cabinet and the Queen of her intention.
By 1200 GMT, Chancellor John Major and Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd had
announced they would now stand against Mr Heseltine in the next stage of the
leadership contest.
The decision comes less than 24 hours after the Iron Lady had vowed to
"fight on and fight to win" after winning the first round - but not with the
required majority.
Tory Party Chairman Kenneth Baker said it was a typically brave and
selfless decision from the prime minister.
"Once again Margaret Thatcher has put her country"s and party"s interests
before personal considerations," he said.
And there were tributes to Mrs Thatcher from both sides of the House of
Commons during Prime Minister"s Questions.
Labour leader Neil Kinnock said the prime minister"s decision showed she
amounted to more than those who had recently turned against her.
But the outgoing Tory leader refused a request from Mr Kinnock to hold a
general election so the British people could make their own choice about her
successor .
Kennedy"s car sped off after he was shot
1963: Kennedy shot dead in Dallas
Artificially 1969:
The The President of the United States has been assassinated by a gunman in
Dallas, Texas.
John F Kennedy was hit in the head and throat when three shots were fired
at his open-topped car.
The presidential motorcade was travelling through the main business area of
the city.
Texas Governor John Connally was also seriously injured when one of the
unknown sniper"s bullets hit him in the back.
The men were accompanied by their wives, who were both uninjured.
Vice-president Lyndon Johnson - who was following in a different car - has
been sworn in as the new US leader.
The presidential party was driving from Dallas airport to the city centre
when witnesses said shots were fired from the window of a building overlooking
the road.
The president collapsed into Jackie Kennedy"s arms, who was heard to cry
"Oh no". Seconds later Governor Connally was also hit.
Dallas Times Herald photographer Bob Jackson was in the motorcade close
behind the Democrat leader"s car and heard the shots as it entered Dealey
Plaza.
"As I looked up I saw a rifle being pulled back from a window - it might
have been resting on the windowsill - I didn"t see a man," he said.
Mr Kennedy"s limousine was driven at speed to Parklands Hospital
immediately after the shooting.
The president was alive when he was admitted, but died at 1400 local time
(1900 GMT) - 35 minutes after being shot.
Police and Secret Service agents stormed the School Book Depository
building moments after the shots were fired and recovered a rifle with a
telescopic sight, said to be the assassination weapon.
The mood of shock in the US was echoed by Senator Mike Mansfield in an
emergency forum of the senate.
"This is terrible - I cannot find words," he said.
Vocabulary:
successor : a person who follows next in order(继承者;接任者)
limousine : large luxurious car(豪华轿车) |
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发表于 2016-7-9 23:19:22