[Annotated] The Trump family demonstrates why America shuns hereditary rule

Loyalty between relatives has the power to poison^[각주:1] both reputations and nations

The hereditary^[각주:2] principle is not just unAmerican^[각주:3] but harms the children of great men, Bengamin Franklin declared soon after the revolutionary war, rumors flew of plots to establish a new aristocracy with^[각주:4] George Washington at its head. To honor parents is reasonable, Franklin averred^[각주:5]. But to reward descendants^[각주:6] for an accident of birth^[각주:7] is "not only groundless^[각주:8] and absurd but often hurtful to that posterity^[각주:9]."

Much about President Donald Trump would dismay^[각주:10] the Founding Fathers^[각주:11]. The rows^[각주:12] now embroiling^[각주:13] his children and son-in-law would surely have nudged them towards^[각주:14] outright^[각주:15] alarm. Even Franklin, a prescient^[각주:16] sort^[각주:17], might have struggled to imagine an American president's child expressing willingness^[각주:18] to receive "very high-level and sensitive information" about a political opponent from a hostile^[각주:19] foreign power^[각주:20] - as Mr Trump's eldest son^[각주:21], Donald junior, did during the election of 2016. But long before that was known, the president's use of his progeny^[각주:22] as White House counselors and as managers of his property empire - spurning advice to^[각주:23] place his businesses in a blind trust^[각주:24] - posed a grave threat^[각주:25] to checks and balances^[각주:26] crafted by^[각주:27] the founders.

Defenders of^[각주:28] nepotism^[각주:29] - for they do exist - argue that close relatives are able to offer presidents more candid^[각주:30] advice than any outsider^[각주:31]. They note that by some counts^[각주:32] 16 presidential children have worked in the White House, variously^[각주:33] as private secretaries^[각주:34] (a tradition begun by the 6th president, John Quincy Adams, himself a president's son), as unpaid^[각주:35] gatekeepers (cf, Anna Roosevelt, daughter of Franklin), or as formal advisers (Dwight Eisenhower's son John served as a national security aide^[각주:36]). But such a defence of nepotism breaks down^[각주:37] when America has a bad president. When ordinary aids find themselves in that unhappy situation, a sense of duty^[각주:38] to their country, to their office or to the rule of law^[각주:39] may prompt them to^[각주:40] question furtive^[각주:41] actions and poor decisions, or to resign. Other aides may be more strongly moved by self-interest^[각주:42], and a desire to keep their good name from being soiled by^[각주:43] an unfit^[각주:44] boss. But when a child wields power^[각주:45] at the pleasure of^[각주:46] a parent, fidelity to^[각주:47] country or to the law must vie with deeper, more visceral loyalties. That tug of loyalties is more painful still when a parent is^[각주:48] like Mr Trump, a clannish^[각주:49], vengeful^[각주:50] man who, by his own son's account^[각주:51], would send him to school with the growled^[각주:52] warning: "Don't trust anyone." As for^[각주:53] trying to preserve a free-standing^[각주:54] good name, that is tricky if you are called Donald Trump junior.

Checks and balances^[각주:55] are also disrupted^[각주:56] when a child-counselor to a president is at fault^[각주:57]. Mr Trump may still resent^[각주:58] the fact that he had to sack^[각주:59] his first national security adviser^[각주:60], Michael Flynn, for fibbing about^[각주:61] contacts with the Russians. But the systems of control and accountability^[각주:62] that caught Mr Flynn, starting with a free press^[각주:63], did Mr Trump a favor^[각주:64]. Senior Trump administration officials^[각주:65] and Republicans in Congress found Mr Flynn, an angry and conspiratorial^[각주:66] ex-general, almost impossible to work with.

In contrast^[각주:67], any hint of disrespect for^[각주:68] a Trump child provokes^[각주:69] indignation^[각주:70] from the president, so that few Republicans in Congress care to^[각주:71] exercise^[각주:72] robust^[각주:73] oversight of^[각주:74] his daughter, Ivanka, or her husband, Jared Kushner, who both serve as senior advisers^[각주:75], with Mr Kushner wielding influence over^[각주:76] dossiers^[각주:77] from domestic economics^[각주:78] to peace in the Middle East. In February Mr Trump attacked Nordstrom, a clothing chain^[각주:79], for dropping^[각주:80] a fashion line^[각주:81] branded by^[각주:82] Ivanka, complaining on^[각주:83] both his personal and government Twitter accounts that she had been "treated so unfairly^[각주:84]". The president took to^[각주:85] Twitter again this week to defend his daughter, enraged by^[각주:86] scoffing^[각주:87] in the world press^[각주:88] after he asked her to fill his seat briefly at the G20 summit. A press secretary for^[각주:89] Mr Trump felt obliged to^[각주:90] denounce^[각주:91] such questioning of^[각주:92] his daughter's role as an "outrageous^[각주:93] attack against a White House senior adviser".

Congress has been feeble^[각주:94] in policing^[각주:95] potential conflicts of interest^[각주:96] involving the Trump Organization, headed by^[각주:97] Donald junior and his brother Eric, as foreign governments book rooms or receptions at^[각주:98] Trump properties^[각주:99], including a hotel a few minutes from the White House.

Struggling to engage with^[각주:100] a nationalist, America First president with a limited attention-span^[각주:101], foreign governments^[각주:102] are learning to use his family to sway^[각주:103] him. Angela Merkel of Germany invited Ivanka Trump to a summit on women's empowerment^[각주:104]. Arab delegations^[각주:105] in Washington enthuse that^[각주:106] dealing with Mr Kushner is a great comfort^[각주:107], as talking to rulers' relations is the Arab way. As for Asia, "because China is not remotely^[각주:108] interested in the democratic health of the United States", its leaders and tycoons^[각주:109] are happy to flatter^[각주:110] Mr Trump or do business deals with his family, giving China an advantage over more squeamish^[각주:111] Western powers, signs a diplomat who sees this process up close^[각주:112].

The father, the son and the holey^[각주:113] Russia defence 

In private, envoys to Washington compare the Trump children to princes and princesses in a royal court^[각주:114]. That is a bit unfair to princes: such modern examples as William and Harry in Britain talk of duty, of humility^[각주:115] and of shunning^[각주:116] politics precisely because they are unelected^[각주:117]. The Trump children are more self-congratulatory^[각주:118], praising their father for selflessly^[각주:119] giving up a life that was "the epitome of^[각주:120] the American dream" to serve as president. Donald junior bragged to^[각주:121] the Republican National Convention^[각주:122] about youthful visits to construction sites^[각주:123]: "we're the only children of billionaires" as happy in a bulldozer as in a car, he said.

Many grassroots^[각주:124] conservatives cheer along. Last October Lexington watched Donald junior tell Republican campaign volunteers in Reno, Nevada, that his family was "sick" of "disgusting" media attacks, prompting one to^[각주:125] reassure^[각주:126] him: "I'd like to thank your family for going through the hell you are going through."

America's founders recoiled from^[각주:127] the hereditary principle. They feared a politics of tribal^[각주:128] factions, too. The Trump clan is proving them right on both counts^[각주:129].

1. poison ; 3. 나쁜 영향을 주다, 해치다 [본문으로]
2. hereditary ; 2. (상습권에 따라) 세습되는 ;; US [hə|redɪteri] UK [hə|redɪtri] [본문으로]
3. unamerican ; [형용사] 반(反)미국적인 ;; contrary to values (often conservative) that the speaker purports to be shared by the people of the United States of America. [본문으로]
4. aristocracy ; [명사] pl. -ies (일부 국가의) 귀족 (계층) ;; US [|ӕrɪ|stɑ:krəsi] UK [|ӕrɪ|stɒkrəsi] [본문으로]
5. aver ; [동사] -rr- (격식) (사실이라고) 단언하다[주장하다] [본문으로]
6. descendant ; 1. 자손, 후손, 후예 [본문으로]
7. accident of birth ; (plural accidents of birth) (idiomatic) A fact, situation, or personal characteristic, which may be desirable or undesirable, resulting from the circumstances into which a person was born, and which is therefore entirely beyond their control. [본문으로]
8. groundless ; [형용사] 근거 없는 [본문으로]
9. posterity ; [U] (격식) 후세, 후대 ;; US [pɑ:|sterəti] UK [pɒ|sterəti] [본문으로]
10. dismay ; [타동사][VN] 경악하게 만들다, 크게 실망시키다 [본문으로]
11. Founding Fathers ; 1. (1787년, Philadelphia에서의) 미합중국 헌법 제정자들. 2. [종종 f- f-] (국가·제도·시설·단체 등의) 창립(창시)자들. [본문으로]
12. row ; (비격식 특히 英) 1. [C] ~ (about/over sth) (사람・조직 등 간의) 심각한 의견 대립 [본문으로]
13. embroider ; 2. [타동사][VN] (이야기를) 윤색하다[꾸미다] [본문으로]
14. nudge ; 2. [타동사][VN + adv. / prep.] (…을 특정 방향으로) 살살[조금씩] 밀다[몰고 가다] [본문으로]
15. outright ; [명사 앞에만 씀] 1. 완전한, 전면적인 [본문으로]
16. prescient ; [형용사] (격식) 선견지명[예지력]이 있는 ;; US·UK [|presiənt] [본문으로]
17. sort ; 2. [C] (주로 단수로 비격식 특히 英) (특정한 부류의) 사람 [본문으로]
18. willingness ; [명사] [U] 쾌히[자진하여] 하기; 기꺼이 하는 마음 [본문으로]
19. hostile ; 1. ~ (to/towards sb/sth) 적대적인 [본문으로]
20. foreign power ; 외세, 외국 열강, 외국 정부 [본문으로]
21. eldest ; [형용사] 특히 가족 구성원인 세 명 이상 중에서 가장 나이가 많은 [본문으로]
22. progeny ; [pl.] (격식 또는 유머) (사람・동식물의) 자손 ;; US [|prɑ:dƷəni] UK [|prɒdƷəni] [본문으로]
23. spur ; (-rr-), [vn] 1. ~ sb/sth (on) (to sth/to do sth) 원동력[자극제]이 되다, 자극하다 [본문으로]
24. blind trust ; [명사] 백지 위임(공직자나 정치가의 공적인 결정 사항이 개인 재산 증식에 영향을 주지 못하도록 그들의 재산을 본인이 모르게 신탁관리하게 하는 방법) [본문으로]
25. pose a grave threat ; 큰, 무서운, 심각한 위협을 가하다 [본문으로]
26. checks and balances ; [pl.] 1. (권력의) 견제와 균형 2. (미국에서 대통령・의회・대법원 간의) 견제와 균형, 견제 원칙 ;; 참고 separation of powers [본문으로]
27. craft ; [타동사][VN] [주로 수동태로] (특히 손으로) 공예품을 만들다, 공들여 만들다 ;; 참고 handcrafted [본문으로]
28. defender ; 2. (주의・사상 등의) 옹호자 [본문으로]
29. nepotism ; [명사] (못마땅함) 친족 등용, 족벌주의, 정실 인사 [본문으로]
30. candid ; 1. 솔직한 ;; 참고 candour [본문으로]
31. outsider ; 2. (특정 조직・직종에 속하지 않는) 외부인 [본문으로]
32. count ; 5. IN DISCUSSION/ARGUMENT | [주로 복수로] (논의나 주장 중에 나온) 사항 [본문으로]
33. variously ; [부사] (격식) 여러 가지로, 다양하게 [본문으로]
34. private secretary ; 2. (정부 고위 공무원의) 보좌관 [본문으로]
35. unpaid ; 3. (사람이) 보수를 받지 않는, 무보수의 [본문으로]
36. aide ; [명사] 보좌관 [본문으로]
37. break down ; 고장 나다, 완전히 부서지다 [본문으로]
38. sense of duty ; 의무감, 사명감, 도리, 책임감 ;; a motivating awareness of ethical responsibility [본문으로]
39. rule of law ; [the ~] 법(에 의한 지배), 법규(범) [본문으로]
40. prompt ; 2. (질문・힌트 등을 주어 말을 하도록) 유도하다 [본문으로]
41. furtive ; [형용사] (못마땅함) 은밀한; 엉큼한 [본문으로]
42. self-interest ; [U] (못마땅함) 사리사욕, 사리 추구 [본문으로]
43. soil ; [타동사][VN] [흔히 수동태로] (격식) 더럽히다 ;; 참고 shop-soiled [본문으로]
44. unfit ; 1. ~ (for sth) | ~ (to eat, drink, live in, etc.) | ~ (to do sth) (특정 기준에) 부적합한 [본문으로]
45. wield power ; 권력을 휘두르다, 세도를 부리다. 권력을 행사하다 [본문으로]
46. at the pleasure of ; ~의 뜻에 따라 [본문으로]
47. fidelity ; [U] 1. ~ (to sth) (격식) 충실함 [본문으로]
48. parent ; 1. [주로 복수로] 부모[어버이](단수형은 아버지나 어머니 한 사람을 가리킴) ;; 참고 one-parent family, single parent, step-parent [본문으로]
49. clannish ; [형용사] (흔히 못마땅함) 한 집단의 구성원들이 자기들만 아는, 배타적인 [본문으로]
50. vengeful ; [형용사] (격식) 복수심을 보이는, 복수심에 불타는 [본문으로]
51. account ; 6. DESCRIPTION | (있었던 일에 대한) 설명[이야기/말] [본문으로]
52. growl ; 2. ~ (at sb) 으르렁거리듯 말하다 [본문으로]
53. as for ; ~에 대해서 말하자면 [본문으로]
54. free-standing ; 2. (다른 무엇의 일부가 아니라) 독립된 [본문으로]
55. checks and balances ; [pl.] 1. (권력의) 견제와 균형 2. (미국에서 대통령・의회・대법원 간의) 견제와 균형, 견제 원칙 ;; 참고 separation of powers [본문으로]
56. disrupt ; [타동사][VN] 방해하다, 지장을 주다 [본문으로]
57. at fault ; 잘못해서; (…에 대해) 죄[책임]가 있어[for]; (기계가) 고장나서 [본문으로]
58. resent ; [동사] 분하게[억울하게] 여기다, 분개하다 [본문으로]
59. sack ; [vn] 1. (비격식 특히 英) 파면[해고]하다 [본문으로]
60. National Security Adviser ; 국가 안전 보장 담당 대통령 보좌관 [본문으로]
61. fib ; [자동사][V] (-bb-) (비격식) (사소한) 거짓말을 하다 [본문으로]
62. accountability ; 1. [U] 책임 (있음), 의무 [본문으로]
63. free press ; 자유 언론, 출판의 자유; [집합적] (검열을 안 받는) 자유 출판물 [본문으로]
64. do sb a favor ; 호의를 베풀다, ~ 의 부탁을 들어주다 [본문으로]
65. official ; [명사] [흔히 합성어에서] (고위) 공무원[관리], 임원 [본문으로]
66. conspiratorial ; 1. 음모의 2. (사람의 행동이) 공모하는 듯한 ;; US.UK [kən|spɪrə|tɔ:riəl] [본문으로]
67. in contrast ; 그에 반해서 [본문으로]
68. disrespect for ; …에 대한 무례, 경시, 멸시 [본문으로]
69. provoke ; 1. [타동사][VN] (특정한 반응을) 유발하다 [본문으로]
70. indignation ; [U] ~ (at/about sth) | ~ (that…) 분개, 분함 ;; US.UK [|ɪndɪg|neɪʃn] [본문으로]
71. care ; 3. [V to inf] 애를 쓰다, 노력하다 [본문으로]
72. exercise ; 1. USE POWER/RIGHT/QUALITY | [타동사][VN] (격식) (권력・권리・역량 등을) 행사[발휘]하다 [본문으로]
73. robust ; 3. (체제・조직이) 탄탄한 [본문으로]
74. oversight ; 2. [U] (격식) 관리, 감독 [본문으로]
75. senior adviser ; [명사] 수석[주임] 고문(역) [본문으로]
76. wield influence (over, upon) ; ~에 영향력을 끼치다, 영향을 미치다, 영향력을 행사하다 [본문으로]
77. dossier ; [명사] ~ (on sb/sth) (한 사람・사건・주제에 대한) 서류[자료] 일체 ;; US [|dɔ:sieɪ;|dɑ:s-]UK [|dɒsieɪ] [본문으로]
78. economics ; 2. [pl., U] (어떤 산업 분야・사회의) 자본 환경[조건] [본문으로]
79. chain ; 3. OF SHOPS/HOTELS | [C] (상점・호텔 등의) 체인 [본문으로]
80. drop ; 10. FRIENDS | [타동사][VN] (사교상의) 관계[연락]를 끊다 [본문으로]
81. line ; 24. ACTIVITY | [sing.] (사업・활동・관심) 분야[유형] ;; 참고 sideline [본문으로]
82. be branded by ; ~에 의해 상표화 되다 [본문으로]
83. complain on[about / of] ; ~에 대해 불평하다. [본문으로]
84. unfairly ; [부사] 불공평하게, 편파적으로; 교활하게; 부정하게. [본문으로]
85. take to sth ; (특히 위험을 피해) ~로 가다 [본문으로]
86. enrage ; [타동사][VN] [주로 수동태로] 격분하게 만들다 [본문으로]
87. scoff ; 1. ~ (at sb/sth) 비웃다, 조롱하다 [본문으로]
88. the world press ; 국제 언론 [본문으로]
89. press secretary ; (대통령의) 공보 담당 비서, (정치인・정치 단체의) 언론 담당 비서 [본문으로]
90. oblige ; 1. [타동사][VN to inf] [주로 수동태로] 의무적으로[부득이] …하게 하다 ;; US.UK [ə|blaɪdƷ] [본문으로]
91. denounce ; [vn], (참고: denunciation) 1. ~ sb/sth (as sth) 맹렬히 비난하다 [본문으로]
92. questioning ; [U] 질의, 심문 [본문으로]
93. outrageous ; 2. 아주 별난, 터무니없는 [본문으로]
94. feeble ; (fee・bler / 'fiːblə(r) / , feeb・lest / 'fiːblIst /) 2. (효과・의지 등이) 허약한, 미미한 [본문으로]
95. police ; 2. (위원회 등이) (규칙 준수를) 감시하다 [본문으로]
96. conflict(s) of interest(s) ; 이해의 충돌(두 가지 일·목적·역할 등이 동시에 동등하고 공정하게 양립하기 어려운 상황), 이해의 상충; (공무원 등의) 공익과 사리의 상충 [본문으로]
97. head ; 2. GROUP/ORGANIZATION | [타동사][VN] ('head sth↔|up) ~을 이끌다[책임지다] [본문으로]
98. reception ; 2. [C] 리셉션, 환영[축하] 연회 [본문으로]
99. property ; 3. [C] 건물, 건물 구내 [본문으로]
100. engage ; 3. [자동사][V] ~ (with sth/sb) (이해심을 갖고) 관계를 맺다 [본문으로]
101. attention span ; (심리) 주의 지속 시간, 주의 범위, 주의 집중 능력: 순간적으로 제시된 대상(점·도형·문자 따위)의 수나 내용을 직후에 말하게 해서 측정한다. [본문으로]
102. foreign government ; (법률) 외국정부 [본문으로]
103. sway ; 2. [타동사][VN] [흔히 수동태로] (마음을) 흔들다[동요시키다] [본문으로]
104. empowerment ; [명사] 권한[기능] 부여[이양]; 〈경영〉 권한[기능] 분산, 권한[기능]의 하부 이양. [본문으로]
105. delegation ; 1. [C+sing./pl. v.] (조직・국가 등의 의사를 대표하는) 대표단 [본문으로]
106. enthuse ; 1. ~ (about/over sth/sb) 열변을 토하다, 열광해서 말하다 ;; US [ɪn|θu:z] UK [ɪn|θju:z] [본문으로]
107. comfort ; 3. [sing.] 위안을 주는[위로가 되는] 사람[것] ;; 참고 cold comfort [본문으로]
108. remotely ; 1. [보통 부정문에서] 아주 약간 [본문으로]
109. tycoon ; [명사] (재계의) 거물 [본문으로]
110. flatter ; 1. [타동사][VN] 아첨하다, 알랑거리다 [본문으로]
111. squeamish ; 1. 비위가 약한[상한](특히 피 같은 것을 보았을 경우에 대해 씀) 2. (부정직한・비도덕적인 일에 대해) 결벽성이 있는[결벽증적인] [본문으로]
112. up close ; 바로 가까이에(서) [본문으로]
113. holey ; [형용사] (천・직물이) 구멍이 많은 ;; US [|hoʊli] UK [|həʊli] [본문으로]
114. royal court ; 궁중, 조정, 왕실 [본문으로]
115. humility ; [명사] 겸손 [본문으로]
116. shun ; [타동사][VN] (-nn-) 피하다 [본문으로]
117. unelect ; (transitive) To vote (somebody previously elected) out of office. ;; vote sb out of office ; 투표로 …를 공직에서 해임시키다. [본문으로]
118. self-congratulatory ; [명사] 자축하는, 자기 만족의 [본문으로]
119. selflessly ; [부사] 자기를 돌보지 않고, 사심없이. [본문으로]
120. epitome ; [sing.] the ~ of sth 완벽한 (본)보기, 전형 ;; US.UK [ɪ|pɪtəmi] [본문으로]
121. brag to ; …에게 허풍을 떨다. [본문으로]
122. national convention ; [명사] (특히 미국에서 정당의 대통령 후보를 뽑기 위한) 전당대회 [본문으로]
123. construction site ; 공사 현장, 건축 부지 [본문으로]
124. grass-roots ; [형용사] 시골의(rural); 민중의, 서민의, 민중으로부터 나온 [본문으로]
125. prompt ; 2. (질문・힌트 등을 주어 말을 하도록) 유도하다 [본문으로]
126. reassure ; [동사] ~ sb (about sth) 안심시키다 [본문으로]
127. recoil ; [v] 1. ~ (from sb/sth) | ~ (at sth) (무섭거나 불쾌한 것을 보고) 움찔하다[흠칫 놀라다] [본문으로]
128. tribal ; [형용사] (주로 명사 앞에 씀) 부족의, 종족의 [본문으로]
129. count ; 5. IN DISCUSSION/ARGUMENT | [주로 복수로] (논의나 주장 중에 나온) 사항 [본문으로]