https://learningenglish.voanews.com/z/979 Learn English as you read and listen to our American history series. The programs are written at the intermediate and upper-beginner level and are read one-third slower than regular VOA English. Download free texts, MP3s and PDFs. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US-LEARN/img/logo.png https://learningenglish.voanews.com/z/979 en 2026 - VOA 60 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:25:55 +0000 Pangea CMS – VOA Memorial Day is a national holiday observed in the United States on the last Monday in May. It is a day when Americans honor the men and women who have died fighting in America’s wars. For most Americans, it also marks the unofficial start of summer. It is a popular weekend for vacationing. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americans-observe-memorial-day-/7107476.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americans-observe-memorial-day-/7107476.html Sun, 26 May 2024 22:00:58 +0000 Arts & CultureLessons of the DayU.S. History The third Monday of February is known as Presidents’ Day in the United States. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/presidents-day-in-the-us/7484267.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/presidents-day-in-the-us/7484267.html Sun, 18 Feb 2024 21:59:00 +0000 U.S. HistoryLessons of the Day https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/7485986.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/7485986.html Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:02:24 +0000 U.S. History Today we are talking about George Washington. He was the first president of the United States. He served from 1789 to 1797. But he had many other accomplishments, too. He owned thousands of hectares of land in his home state of Virginia. He was a famous general. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-washington/3714877.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-washington/3714877.html Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:59:57 +0000 America's PresidentsU.S. History Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American civil rights leader. He was killed in 1968 at the age of 39. The United States remembers and honors him with a holiday on the third Monday in January https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/martin-luther-king-jr-us-civil-rights-leader/4204012.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/martin-luther-king-jr-us-civil-rights-leader/4204012.html Sun, 14 Jan 2024 22:03:00 +0000 U.S. HistoryLessons of the Day Today we are talking about Joe Biden. He took office in 2021, becoming America’s 46th President. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/joe-biden-oldest/7436052.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/joe-biden-oldest/7436052.html Sat, 13 Jan 2024 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Today we are talking about Donald Trump, the 45th U.S. president. He was elected in 2016. Because his presidency is so new, this program will not discuss his time in office. Instead, it will discuss his early life. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-donald-trump/4188923.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-donald-trump/4188923.html Sat, 06 Jan 2024 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Obama is the United States’ first African-American president. His father was a black man from Kenya; his mother was a white American from the Midwestern state of Kansas. For many Americans, Obama’s presidency was an important symbol in a country that permitted black people to be enslaved. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-barack-obama/4181145.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-barack-obama/4181145.html Sat, 30 Dec 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Today we are talking about George Walker Bush. He took office in 2001 as the 43rd president. Bush will surely be remembered for facing one of the biggest challenges to any president: the attacks against the U.S. on September 11, 2001. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-george-w-bush/4172344.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-george-w-bush/4172344.html Sat, 23 Dec 2023 21:55:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Clinton took office in 1993, and was re-elected in 1996. In many ways, historians consider his time in office a success. The economy expanded, and the country was largely at peace. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-bill-clinton/4162320.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-bill-clinton/4162320.html Sat, 16 Dec 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Before he became president in 1989, Bush had a lot of experience in government. He spent four years in the United States House of Representatives, worked as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and led the Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA. Then, for eight years, he was vice president. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-george-hw-bush/4151649.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-george-hw-bush/4151649.html Sat, 09 Dec 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Today we are talking about Ronald Reagan. He was president for two terms, and served from 1981 to 1989. Before that, he was the governor of California, worked as an actor and led a labor union. As president, Reagan is credited for changing the direction of the country. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-ronald-reagan/4141828.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-ronald-reagan/4141828.html Sat, 02 Dec 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Carter was elected president in 1976. Until he campaigned for the office, few Americans knew who he was. But Carter said his lack of experience with the federal government made him the best candidate. After witnessing years of problems in the White House, many voters appeared to agree with him. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-jimmy-carter/4130227.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-jimmy-carter/4130227.html Sat, 25 Nov 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Many historians have described Ford as a good man facing a difficult situation. He tried to fix a troubled economy, end United States' involvement in Vietnam, and show people that the U.S. government could continue to operate after a crisis. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-gerald-ford/4118078.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-gerald-ford/4118078.html Sat, 18 Nov 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Nixon is well-known to many Americans for one reason: he was the only president to resign from the position. Facing possible legal action by Congress, Nixon left office early in his second term. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-richard-nixon/4107568.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-richard-nixon/4107568.html Sat, 11 Nov 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Many Americans recognize Johnson from a photograph of his swearing-in on November 22, 1963. Kennedy had just been shot during a visit to Dallas, Texas. After doctors announced that Kennedy had died, Johnson took the oath of office as president. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-lyndon-johnson/4095890.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-lyndon-johnson/4095890.html Sat, 04 Nov 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History When he took office in 1961, Kennedy was 43 years old. He was the youngest elected president in United States history. Kennedy was also the first Catholic to be elected U.S. president. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-john-kennedy/4085635.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-john-kennedy/4085635.html Sat, 28 Oct 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History ​Eisenhower was famous before he became president of the United States. He was a general in World War II, and led the Allied invasion of Europe. As president, Eisenhower became known for his efforts to keep peace. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-dwight-eisenhower/4076083.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-dwight-eisenhower/4076083.html Sat, 21 Oct 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Truman took office after Franklin Roosevelt died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage. Roosevelt had been president for 12 years. But Truman was new to the position of vice president. Two other men had earlier served in the office under Roosevelt. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-harry-truman/4067702.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-harry-truman/4067702.html Sat, 14 Oct 2023 21:57:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History Today we continue with part two of the life and presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-franklin-roosevelt-part-2/4056474.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/americas-presidents-franklin-roosevelt-part-2/4056474.html Sat, 07 Oct 2023 21:58:00 +0000 America's PresidentsLessons of the DayU.S. History