2016 Election News
In many countries, smiling and being friendly is a big deal
By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff
03.03.16 Grade Level 3 Word Count 454
Last fall, Donald Trump said Jeb Bush had "low energy." The mean words stuck. Only in America could this hurt a lawmaker running for office. Both men were running for president. Trump had meant that Bush was not very excited. Bush is no longer running to be president. Trump's unkind words were one reason he stopped running. It made people think about his stiff personality. In the United States, leaders and people who run for office have to be liked. They can lose if they do not seem to be excited enough. Having a big smile can make a big difference. Friendliness is rewarded, said Susan Cain. She is a writer.
People Around The World Like Different Feelings
Not every country thinks the same way. Scientists did a study about people's feelings in different countries. They said that Western countries like excitement. Some Western countries are the United States, Canada, and countries in Europe. Eastern countries like calmness. Some Eastern countries are China, Taiwan, and other countries in Asia. Leaders of their countries show the feelings that the people there like. Scientists believe that people in different places like different feelings. Jeanne Tsai did a study about it. She led a team at Stanford University. They wanted to find out which feelings were important to people in different places. Tsai said the feelings that citizens in a country like can be seen all around us. The feelings can be found in children's storybooks and greeting cards. They are also found on leaders' faces.
Study Asked About Faces
First, they looked at photos of American and Chinese leaders. They asked people if the faces were calm or excited. Then they had computer programs do the same thing. They learned that leaders in the United States smiled more. U.S. leaders also had more excited smiles. Leaders in China looked more calm. Next, they looked at winners and losers in government races. They wanted to see if winning or losing changed the smiles. U.S. leaders still had bigger smiles. Asian leaders looked less excited. The smiles did not change if they won or lost.
Excited Smile Or Calm Smile?
Next, they wanted to find out why Americans had more excited smiles. They asked students in 10 countries how they wanted to feel. In Western countries, students wanted to feel excited. The leaders of these countries had big, excited smiles. In Eastern countries, students wanted to feel calm and peaceful. Their leaders looked relaxed, with smaller smiles. The study found that a country's leaders showed feelings that the people liked. People in the United States like big smiles. Jeb Bush did not have a big smile. It could be why he did not do well running for office.
Politician: Hilary Clinton
By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks, adapted by Newsela staff
Grade Level 3 Word Count 555
Synopsis: Hillary Clinton was born in 1947. She married Bill Clinton in 1975. Her husband became president in 1993, and she was the first lady. She became a U.S. senator in 2001 and secretary of state in 2009. In 2016, Clinton became the Democratic choice for president. She was the first woman picked to be the candidate for president by a major political party. Republicans and Democrats are the two major political parties, or groups, in the United States.
Background
Hillary Clinton was born Hillary Diane Rodham on October 26, 1947. She was born in Chicago, Illinois.
As a young woman, Clinton was interested in politics. She heard a speech by the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. The speech inspired her to work in public service. She became a Democrat in 1968.
Education And Early Career
Hillary Clinton went to Wellesley College. She was elected senior class president of the college. She then attended Yale Law School in Connecticut. She met Bill Clinton there.
In 1974, she started teaching at the University of Arkansas Law School.
Marriage To Bill Clinton
Hillary Clinton married Bill Clinton in 1975. They had a daughter named Chelsea. Bill Clinton became governor of Arkansas in 1978.
Clinton worked as a lawyer. An important law newspaper said she was one of the top lawyers in America.
First Lady
Bill Clinton ran for president in 1992. He was elected. Hillary Clinton was an important part of his campaign. She also helped him in the White House.
Senate Win And Presidential Run
In 2001, Clinton became a U.S. senator. She was elected in the state of New York. Then she was elected again in 2006.
In 2007, Clinton said she was running for president. She left the race in 2008. By then, it was clear that Barack Obama would be the Democratic candidate.
U.S. Secretary Of State
President Obama named Clinton secretary of state. As secretary of state, she represented the U.S. government around the world. She traveled to many countries and spoke about women's rights and human rights. These ideas were the most important to her.
Campaign Issues
In 2015, Clinton said she would run for president again.
Clinton has talked about lots of ideas in her campaign. One is student debt. Many people borrowed money to pay for college. Now they have to pay it back. Some are not making enough money to do this. Clinton wants to lower the amount they have to pay back.
She also wants to make health care cheaper, and to make things more fair for women.
Clinton has changed her mind on some things. Some people think she changes her mind too much. For example, she changed her mind about the rules for trading with other countries.
Making History
In July 2016, Clinton became the Democratic choice for president. It was a historic moment for women in the U.S.
Background
Hillary Clinton was born Hillary Diane Rodham on October 26, 1947. She was born in Chicago, Illinois.
As a young woman, Clinton was interested in politics. She heard a speech by the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. The speech inspired her to work in public service. She became a Democrat in 1968.
Education And Early Career
Hillary Clinton went to Wellesley College. She was elected senior class president of the college. She then attended Yale Law School in Connecticut. She met Bill Clinton there.
In 1974, she started teaching at the University of Arkansas Law School.
Marriage To Bill Clinton
Hillary Clinton married Bill Clinton in 1975. They had a daughter named Chelsea. Bill Clinton became governor of Arkansas in 1978.
Clinton worked as a lawyer. An important law newspaper said she was one of the top lawyers in America.
First Lady
Bill Clinton ran for president in 1992. He was elected. Hillary Clinton was an important part of his campaign. She also helped him in the White House.
Senate Win And Presidential Run
In 2001, Clinton became a U.S. senator. She was elected in the state of New York. Then she was elected again in 2006.
In 2007, Clinton said she was running for president. She left the race in 2008. By then, it was clear that Barack Obama would be the Democratic candidate.
U.S. Secretary Of State
President Obama named Clinton secretary of state. As secretary of state, she represented the U.S. government around the world. She traveled to many countries and spoke about women's rights and human rights. These ideas were the most important to her.
Campaign Issues
In 2015, Clinton said she would run for president again.
Clinton has talked about lots of ideas in her campaign. One is student debt. Many people borrowed money to pay for college. Now they have to pay it back. Some are not making enough money to do this. Clinton wants to lower the amount they have to pay back.
She also wants to make health care cheaper, and to make things more fair for women.
Clinton has changed her mind on some things. Some people think she changes her mind too much. For example, she changed her mind about the rules for trading with other countries.
Making History
In July 2016, Clinton became the Democratic choice for president. It was a historic moment for women in the U.S.
Politician: Donald Trump
Synopsis: Donald Trump was born in 1946. His birthplace was New York. In 1971, he began building large buildings. He became a billionaire. In 2004, Trump was on a TV show. It is called "The Apprentice." In 2015, he decided he wanted to be president of the United States. Trump became the Republican choice. Republicans and Democrats are the two main political groups in the United States. Each group chooses one person. They will compete against each other in the election in November.
Early Life And Education
Donald John Trump was born June 14, 1946, in New York City. His parents were Frederick and Mary MacLeod Trump. Frederick Trump was a builder. Donald had much energy and would behave badly. His parents sent him to the New York Military Academy. He was 13 years old. The school was very strict.
Trump did well at school. He became an athlete and student leader. He went to Fordham University, in New York. Then he went to the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1968.
New York Real Estate Developer
After college, Trump joined his father's company.
In 1971, he took over the company. He gave it a new name. He called it the Trump Organization. Trump began building big buildings around the country. He became super rich. He says he is a billionaire.
Ups And Downs Of Business
In 1990, Trump said he had $1.5 billion. Forbes magazine said that he owed a lot of money to banks. His personal fortune was closer to $500 million. Forbes says he is now worth $3.7 billion.
Personal Life, Politics And Reality TV
Trump got married three times. He has five children.
In 2004, Trump began working on "The Apprentice." The TV show was a big hit. Many people watched it.
Presidential Contender
In 2015, Trump said he wanted to be president.
He has said mean things to many groups of people. He said he would stop Muslims from moving to the United States. He said they do terror attacks.
GOP Presidential Nominee
On July 21, 2016, the Republican Party made a choice for president. It chose Trump. He is running against Hillary Clinton. She is the Democratic Party's choice. She wants to be president, too.
Trump promised that Americans would be allowed to own a gun. He said he would lower taxes. He made another promise. He said he would build a big wall between the United States and Mexico. He wants to stop people from just walking into the country.
Early Life And Education
Donald John Trump was born June 14, 1946, in New York City. His parents were Frederick and Mary MacLeod Trump. Frederick Trump was a builder. Donald had much energy and would behave badly. His parents sent him to the New York Military Academy. He was 13 years old. The school was very strict.
Trump did well at school. He became an athlete and student leader. He went to Fordham University, in New York. Then he went to the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1968.
New York Real Estate Developer
After college, Trump joined his father's company.
In 1971, he took over the company. He gave it a new name. He called it the Trump Organization. Trump began building big buildings around the country. He became super rich. He says he is a billionaire.
Ups And Downs Of Business
In 1990, Trump said he had $1.5 billion. Forbes magazine said that he owed a lot of money to banks. His personal fortune was closer to $500 million. Forbes says he is now worth $3.7 billion.
Personal Life, Politics And Reality TV
Trump got married three times. He has five children.
In 2004, Trump began working on "The Apprentice." The TV show was a big hit. Many people watched it.
Presidential Contender
In 2015, Trump said he wanted to be president.
He has said mean things to many groups of people. He said he would stop Muslims from moving to the United States. He said they do terror attacks.
GOP Presidential Nominee
On July 21, 2016, the Republican Party made a choice for president. It chose Trump. He is running against Hillary Clinton. She is the Democratic Party's choice. She wants to be president, too.
Trump promised that Americans would be allowed to own a gun. He said he would lower taxes. He made another promise. He said he would build a big wall between the United States and Mexico. He wants to stop people from just walking into the country.