Columnist Michael Davies imagines how it might have been...

Everyone knows Bill Clinton was a student at Oxford University in his youth. The beleaguered President of the United States came to this side of the Pond as a Rhodes Scholar in the late 1960s.

It was 30 years ago today (roughly) - the time of the Vietnam War, experimentation with drugs and unprecedented sexual freedom. The postgraduate Clinton was 22.

But what most people don't know - and I can exclusively reveal - is that Slick Willie kept a diary of his time here in Oxford. Surprisingly enough, this explosive document has come into my possession after being found stuffed down the back of an old armchair at his former digs in Leckford Road, pictured right.

Here, by way of marking the 30th anniversary of his arrival, I offer you a few carefully edited extracts...

September 17, 1968

Arrived in Oxford today. It really is a city of dreaming spires and also seems to have the most fantastic evening paper. I must get in with the journalists there - it could be good for my future career.

September 23

Managed to find digs in Leckford Road. Landlady's quite dishy, if a bit grey. Still, beggars can't be choosers and you only live once...

September 28

Attended first lecture. Incredibly boring but anything's better than flushing out gooks in the jungle - lucky escape there, methinks! Spent time in lecture hall sussing out talent: should be plenty to keep a healthy lad busy.

October 17

Got a letter from that nice Hillary girl I met over the summer. I might keep in touch with her - she seems to be going places. Mind you, she has this crazy notion that there'll be a woman running the country before the end of the century! Huh, imagine it!

November 3

Missing home. Popped into the Lamb and Flag last night and heard Tom Jones singing Green Green Grass of Home on the jukebox. Blubbed a bit, but I think I hid it from the guys.

November 20

Wrote back to Hillary (at last), offering advice on best way to further her career. Told her to find some rich mug to latch on to. Couldn't think how to sign off - finally rejected "yours faithfully" on the grounds that I don't want to make rash promises.

December 1

Have joined rugby club - it's funny how the Limeys have nicked our good ol' sport of American Football and bastardised it into this strange game. Still, the groupies are always good value, and one of the prop forwards says he's got some "stuff" we should try one night. Can't imagine what he means...

December 18

Tried some of prop forward's "stuff" - well, it's Christmas, and I can always say I didn't inhale. "Stuff" has an amazing effect: I had this incredible dream that men would go to the moon within a year and I would end up President. Unreal.

February 14, 1969

Massive dilemma. Valentine's Day and who to take out? Ended up staying in and making long transatlantic call to Hillary. She's really shaping up well, that girl, and she said some sweet things about me. She even suggested I might have the makings of a city councillor back in Little Rock if I really put my mind to it.

March 4

Have had to give up practising saxophone at my digs - landlady says my horn's just too much. One day, I swear, I'll be so rich and powerful I'll be able to employ somebody to do my blowing for me...

May 1

Got up really early to join in May morning celebrations on Magdalen Bridge, but on my way there I met this cute little popsie from Brasenose and we kinda detoured...

May 8

Invited to attend yet another May Ball - I guess popularity is just a cross I'll have to bear.

May 14

So many balls, so little time...

June 12

Time at Oxford is coming to an end and it'll cost me a fortune to keep all these girls quiet. Managed to sneak into Rhodes House and filch their file on me - it makes quite interesting reading and I'm just glad these new-fangled videotape things aren't widely available yet.

June 21

Ah well, what now? Went to see careers adviser - nice, pert young lady - who suggested I forget music and try law. Maybe I should think seriously about politics. After all, my hero is JFK and I've always quite admired that Nixon guy - I think he'll go far. I could probably learn a thing or two from them. Perhaps I should ask Hillary along for the ride, you know, no strings attached...

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.