The US-UK Debate Tour Exchange
Two outstanding British student debaters are chosen each year to tour approximately 30 states over three months. The ESU USA Tour is one of the most prestigious awards in University debating. In return two American debaters visit universities and institutions in the UK. The programme was established in 1922. Alumni of the British team include:
- Rab Butler (1924) - Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary
- Michael Ramsey (1925) -Archbishop of Canterbury
- Hans-Jürgen von Blumenthal (1930) - member of the July 20 Plot to assassinate Hitler
- Michael Foot (1934) - leader of the Labour Party
- Edward Heath (1939) - Prime Minister
- Tony Benn (1947) - Labour cabinet minister
- Robin Day (1949) - broadcaster
- William Rees-Mogg (1951) - editor of The Times
- Patrick Mayhew (1953) - Northern Ireland Secretary
- Brian Walden (1958) - broadcaster
- Leon Brittan (1961) - Vice-President of the European Commission
- Michael Howard (1963) - leader of the Conservative Party
- Jonathan Aitken (1964) - Conservative politician and former journalist
- Norman Lamont (1965) - Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Peter Bazalgette (1976) - businessman with interests in the media
as well as a significant number of MPs, QCs and other notable figures.
Read more about this topic: English-Speaking Union
Famous quotes containing the words debate, tour and/or exchange:
“Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade, as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. But a modest assertion of one’s own opinion, and a complaisant acquiescence in other people’s, preserve dignity.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
“Left Washington, September 6, on a tour through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia.... Absent nineteen days. Received every where heartily. The country is again one and united! I am very happy to be able to feel that the course taken has turned out so well.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“Ideal conversation must be an exchange of thought, and not, as many of those who worry most about their shortcomings believe, an eloquent exhibition of wit or oratory.”
—Emily Post (1873–1960)