President of Pop, John Washington King of Pop, Michael Jackson The Oxford Union is the world's most famous debating chambers and has attracted its fair share of the famous and the infamous. Generations of politicians, academics and writers have debated in what former British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan called "one of the last bastions of freedom of speech in the Western World". Founded in 1823, the union's officers include five British Prime Ministers, Gladstone, Lord Salisbury, Herbert Asquith, Edward Heath and MacMillan. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was union president in 1977. John Washington, the ancestral nephew of President George Washington, debated the future of the British monarchy at the Oxford Union. Michael Jackson, Dame Judi Dench, and Kermit the Frog have all made recent appearances. Past guests have included the Queen of England, Mother Theresa, Ian Smith (unapologetic former President of Rhodesia), Mahatma Ghandi, Nelson Mandella and Mick Jagger. Disgraced former American President Richard Nixon gave his first speech at the Oxford Union after he was ousted from office in 1975. Scores of other notables have also honed their debating skills in the chamber. Debates about the armed services in 1933, the Common Market in 1975 and Ian Paisley's attack on Catholicism have all made national news headlines in England. Along with the pressing issues of the day, the Oxford Union, especially in recent Former President Richard Nixon. years, has also been a forum for less weighty matters. Controversial television host Jerry Springer, model Jerry Hall and Leonard Nimoy - Star Trek's Captain Spock - have all addressed the union. Acquitted American football star OJ Simpson also braved the 900 or so students who pack the chamber for the main debates. Footballer Diego Maradona famously juggled a golf ball on his foot during his stint while former footballer-turned-presenter Gary Lineker debated the motion "this house would rather participate than commentate". "Mr. Spock", Leanord Nimoy Barry White was invited to address the union as "the world's most romantic singer-songwriter", and spoke of his worries about music on the internet. The Oxford Union also provides social facilities for the city's thousands of students, who would otherwise be split across its forty separate colleges. It also boasts the city's only late-night student bar - thanks to the efforts of former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine, an officer of the union in the 1950s. (click here to watch the debate at the Oxford Union in RealVideo)   Join the (FREE) President of Pop List, here! More About the Oxford Union The Story on the BBC Site (doesn't mention me, 'cause I was a last minute replacement!) Me! Get a FREE MP3 player, and FREE music, (including instructions on how to get a FREE CD), by joining JW's list (separate from the P.O.P list). Get RARE updates on his music, etc. Unsubscribe any time...cool :-) Yer Email Address (Get a chance on a FREE portable MP3 Player...cool!) subscribe :-) unsubscribe :-( Privacy strictly, totally, and utterly guaranteed - you'll just get rare free info on JW's music (and a chance to win a free portable mp3 player and other cool stuff!)- unsubscribe whenever ya want! John Washington (John Augustine Washington V), ancestral nephew of President George Washington, just debated Count Tolstoy, at the Oxford Union, on the merits of the British Monarchy. Click here to see John's memory of that debate, including RealVideo of entire thing!

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