美國歷屆總統首次踏入白宮橢圓形辦公室，都會閱讀前任總統放在橡木辦公桌上的一封親筆信，這是象征總統權力和平轉移的一個傳統。美國前總統奧巴馬離開白宮時，給特朗普留下一封275字的信，這幾乎比其他所有前總統留給新任總統的信都要長，那么奧巴馬究竟說了些什么？

US President Barack Obama (R) meets with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss transition plans in the White House Oval Office in Washington, US, November 10, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

According to a letter posted by CNN, Obama encouraged Trump to "build more ladders of success for every child and family that's willing to work hard" and "sustain the international order."
據CNN公布的信件稱，奧巴馬鼓勵特朗普“要為每個愿意付出努力的兒童和家庭創造更多通往成功的機會”、并“維護國際秩序”。

他在信中向特朗普提了四點忠告：

關于社會公平：

"Not everyone is so lucky. It's up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that's willing to work hard."
“不是每個人都如此幸運。我們的責任是竭盡所能，為每個愿意付出努力的兒童和家庭創造更多通往成功的機會?！?/p>

關于國際關系：

Turning to international relations, Obama told Trump, who had embraced isolationism throughout his campaign: "American leadership in this world really is indispensable."
談到國際關系，奧巴馬對競選期間始終信奉孤立主義的特朗普說：“美國在這世界上的領導地位真的是不可或缺的?！?/p>

"It's up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order that's expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend."
“我們的職責是通過自身行動樹立榜樣，維持自冷戰結束以來穩定發展的國際秩序，我們的財富和安全也仰仗于此?！?/p>

關于民主：

Obama urged his successor to protect "those democratic institutions and traditions – like rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties – that our forebears fought and bled for".
奧巴馬敦促特朗普守護“前輩流血奮斗爭取而來的法治、分權、平等保護和公民自由等民主制度和民主傳統”。

"Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it's up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them."
“盡管日常政務紛擾不斷，但我們的職責是讓我們的民主制度保持強大，至少和我們建立它時一樣強大。”

奧巴馬最后叮囑特朗普：

"And finally, take time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They’ll get you through the inevitable rough patches. "
“最后，在繁重的事務和職責中，留點時間陪伴親友。他們能助你度過難以避免的艱苦時刻?！?/p>

In January, Trump called the letter "beautiful" and said he would cherish it, adding: "We won't even tell the press what's in that letter."
今年1月，特朗普稱這是一封“美好”的信件，并表示會珍惜它，還稱：“我們甚至不會告訴媒體信的內容”。

The relationship between the two presidents has grown increasingly fractious after an initial attempt to build bridges on both sides quickly collapsed.
兩位總統起初試圖建立聯系，雙方的嘗試很快以失敗告終，關系變得越來越緊張。

Obama invited his successor to the White House a few days after the election, telling Trump: "We now are going to do everything we can to help you succeed, because if you succeed, then the country succeeds."
大選結束幾天后，奧巴馬邀請特朗普前往白宮，他說：“我們現在將盡一切可能幫助你取得成功，因為你的成功，就是美國的成功?！?/p>

Trump said he had "great respect" for the president he had excoriated on the campaign trail, and called Obama a "very good man".
特朗普稱，他“非常敬重”這位他曾在競選時痛斥的總統，并稱奧巴馬“人很好”。

US President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington November 10, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

"The conversations have been cordial," Obama said in January, following news the two had had a handful of phone calls. "He has been open to suggestions, and the main thing that I've tried to transmit is that there's a difference between governing and campaigning."
媒體報道兩人曾有過幾次通話后，奧巴馬1月表示，“我們的談話很愉快，他一直樂于接受建議，我主要向他傳遞的意思是，執政和競選之間存在差異。”

When the New Yorker's David Remnick asked Obama how that White House meeting with Trump had gone, however, the former president "smiled thinly, and said, 'I think I can't characterize it without...' Then he stopped himself and said that he would tell me 'at some point over a beer – off the record'."
當《紐約客》主編大衛?瑞姆尼克訪問奧巴馬兩人的白宮會談如何時，奧巴馬卻“勉強一笑，稱‘提到這個我就不能不……’，然后他停下來說，‘如果來杯啤酒，關掉錄音，他才可能’告訴我?！?/p>

Within days of Trump's inauguration, Obama had broken his silence to criticize his successor for the first time, with a spokesman responding to Trump's first attempt at a travel ban by saying: "The president (Obama) fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion."
特朗普就職幾天后，奧巴馬打破沉默，第一次抨擊特朗普。特朗普初次提出旅行禁令時，一位發言人對此回應稱：“總統（奧巴馬）從根本上不認同歧視個人宗教信仰的觀念。”

Their relationship was strained further when Trump claimed in March that Obama had been tapping his phones during the election campaign. This week his own Justice Department stated in a court filing that its national security division and the FBI "confirm that they have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets".
今年3月，特朗普稱奧巴馬在大選期間一直竊聽他的電話，兩人此時的關系更加緊張。本周特朗普政府司法部在一份法庭文件中聲稱，國家安全部門和聯邦調查局證實，“他們沒有和今年3月4日的推文所述竊聽事件相關的記載?！?/p>

More recently, Obama responded to Trump's heavily criticized remarks equating neo-Nazis with the protesters opposing them in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a series of tweets quoting Nelson Mandela. "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion," the former president posted.
最近，特朗普將新納粹分子與弗吉尼亞州夏洛茨維爾市反對新納粹主義的抗議者相提并論，此番言論備受詬病。對此，奧巴馬發了幾條推特，引用尼爾森?曼德拉的名言回應道：“沒有人天生就因為別人的膚色、背景和宗教信仰而仇視他人?！?/p>

By contrast, Trump continues to use social media to needle his predecessor, last month retweeting an allegedly antisemitic supporter's set of images entitled "The best eclipse ever!" which showed Trump's face gradually obscuring that of Obama.
相比之下，特朗普繼續用社交媒體諷刺奧巴馬，上個月，他轉發了一位據稱是反猶太主義支持者的圖片。這組圖片中，特朗普的臉正在逐漸遮蓋奧巴馬的臉，而圖片的名字叫做“有史以來最棒的日食！”

以下是奧巴馬給特朗普信件的全文翻譯↓↓↓

Dear Mr President
親愛的總統先生

Congratulations on a remarkable run. Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure.
祝賀你，在競選中表現如此出色。數百萬人已將他們的希望寄托于你，而我們所有人，不論隸屬哪個黨派，都希望在你的任內，美國能夠更加繁榮與安全。

This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I don’t know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful. Still, let me offer a few reflections from the past 8 years.
這是間獨一無二的辦公室，里面沒有清晰的成功藍圖，所以我無法確定我的建議是否對你特別有用，但我還是希望和你分享，過去8年我的一些思考。

First, we’ve both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune. Not everyone is so lucky. It’s up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that’s willing to work hard.
首先，我們都是幸運的人，盡管方式不同，但運氣都很好。并非所有人都能這樣幸運。我們的職責是竭盡所能，去為每一個愿意付出努力的兒童和家庭，創造更多通往成功的機會。

Second, American leadership in this world really is indispensable. It’s up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order that’s expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend.
其次，美國在這世界上的領導地位真的是不可或缺的。我們的職責是通過自身行動樹立榜樣，維持自冷戰結束以來穩定發展的國際秩序，我們的財富和安全也仰仗于此。

Third, we are just temporary occupants of this office. That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions -- like rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties -- that our forebears fought and bled for. Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it’s up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them.
第三，我們都只是這間辦公室的過客。它讓我們成為民主制度和民主傳統的守護者，我們的前輩們曾為法治、分權、平等保護和公民自由等流血奮斗。因此，盡管日常政務紛擾不斷，但我們的職責是讓我們的民主制度保持強大，至少和我們建立它時一樣強大。

And finally, take time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They’ll get you through the inevitable rough patches.
最后，在繁忙的諸事和職責之余，給自己的朋友和家人留些時間。他們將幫你度過那些躲無可躲的難關。

Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you embark on this great adventure, and know that we stand ready to help in any ways which we can.
米歇爾和我祝福你和梅拉尼婭開始這段偉大的征程，并希望你知道，我們隨時準備為你們提供任何形式的力所能及的幫助。

Good luck and Godspeed,
BO
愿諸事順遂
貝拉克?奧巴馬

英文來源：衛報
翻譯&編輯：董靜
審校：丹妮