Dec. 1964: Malcolm X. Debates the virtues of extremism in defense of liberty. A serious man for a serious issue.
Nov. 1978: Richard Nixon. Boo. The crowd outside the Union drowns out his address. “Hurry up Nixon, and die.” Nobody hears his confession: “I screwed up.”
Dec. 1991: Dalai Lama. Speaks on Tibet and his faith. Impact? Hundreds of Oxford students regret not having taken a “gap year” to travel.
June 1993: Mother Teresa. An inspiration to all. But who exactly is going to debate her?
Oct. 1994: Kermit the Frog. Speaks on life as a frog in the 1990s. Enough said.
Nov. 1996: O. J. Simpson. More famous in Britain for bit parts in the “Naked Gun” movies than for his athleticism, until the trial. At Oxford, O.J. protests his innocence, but fails to convincingly defend himself against accusations of appalling acting.
March 1999: Jerry Springer. Promotes talk show by saying guests talk about the same things Lady Di did. Bulimia and suicide, that is; not life as a princess. But he does draw a larger crowd than Mother Teresa.
