Rhodes Scholars, Oxford, and the Creation of an American Elite...a very readable book. Personalities and their relationships are vividly described. * American Historical Review ...Schaeper is to be warmly congratulated ...This is a piece of thorough and careful research, well organized, and a quite fascinating book. * Contemporary Review ...a careful and interesting record of a unique and largely successful transatlantic experiment * Daily Telegraph London ...entertaining and informative reading. * Library Journal ...a fascinating study based on numerous interviews with former Rhodes scholars and American administrators of the program, and on the memoirs and autobiographies of Rhodie alumni ...Produced in a clear, straightforward prose and with a touch of good humor, this book is a pleasure to read. * Albion Each year thirty-two seniors at American universities are awarded Rhodes Scholarships, which entitle them to spend two or three years studying at the University of Oxford.The program, founded by the British colonialist and entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes and established in 1903, has become the world's most famous academic scholarship and has brought thousands of young Americans to study in England.Many of these later became national leaders in government, law, education, literature, and other fields. Among them were the politicians J. William Fulbright, Bill Bradley, and Bill Clinton; the public policy analysts Robert Reich and George Stephanopoulos; the writer Robert Penn Warren; the entertainer Kris Kristofferson; and the Supreme Court Justices Byron White and David Souter. Based on extensive research in published and unpublished documents and on hundreds of interviews, this book traces the history of the program and the stories of many individuals. In addition it addresses a host of questions such as: how important was the Oxford experience for the individual scholars? To what extent has the program created an old-boy (-girl since 1976) network that propels its members to success? How many Rhodes Scholars have cracked under the strain and failed to live up to expectations?How have the Americans coped with life in Oxford and what have they thought of Britain in general? Beyond the history of the program and the individuals involved, this book also offers a valuable examination of the American-British cultural encounter. Thomas J. Schaeper is Professor of History at St.Bonaventure University, a member of the editorial board of French Historical Studies, and the author of four previous books on European and American history. Kathleen Schaeper is a social studies teacher at Allegany-Limestone Central School. For several years they co-directed the St. Bonaventure summer program at Oxford University. |
Contents
RHODES SOUTH AFRICA AND OXFORD | 1 |
Reactions to the Will | 21 |
Town and Gown | 33 |
Getting Acquainted | 46 |
1 | 60 |
6 | 76 |
7 | 86 |
FIGHTING THE WORLDS FIGHT | 113 |
BILL CLINTON AND FRIENDS | 169 |
NEW VOICES NEW FACES | 219 |
NEW VOICES NEW FACES | 244 |
CAREERS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS | 276 |
THE OXFORD FACTOR | 318 |
THE RHODES AHEAD | 343 |
U S Rhodes Scholars 19042004 | 360 |
395 | |
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Common terms and phrases
academic admitted Alexander Allen Alumni American Oxonian American Rhodes Scholars American Rhodes Scholarships appointed Arkansas arrived in Oxford Arthur athletic awards B.Litt Balliol became Bill Clinton Britain British students Byron White candidates career Cecil Rhodes century Charles classmates D.Phil David Dean Rusk decades December degree dons Douglas dozen early Edward Elton fellow former scholars Francis Wylie Frank Aydelotte friends Fulbright George graduate Harvard Ibid interview James John Joseph June later magazine major male Maraniss Michael never obtained Parkin Paul Pelczynski played political president Reich Rhodes House Rhodes Scholars Rhodes Scholarships Rhodes Trustees Richard Robert Robert Penn Warren Robert Reich Rogers Rotberg Secretary selection committees Sieverts Smith social South Africa Stansfield Turner Talbott Thomas tion tutor undergraduate United Vietnam Warren Washington White William women Yale York young