American Whig–Cliosophic Society
Founded	1765; 260 years ago (1765) Princeton University
Type	Literary
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Active
Emphasis	Debate
Scope	Local
Colors	Orange and Black
Chapters	1
Nickname	Whig-Clio
Headquarters	Whig Hall Princeton,New Jersey 08544 United States
Website	whigclio.princeton.edu

TheAmerican Whig–Cliosophic Society, sometimes abbreviated asWhig-Clio, is a political, literary, anddebating society atPrinceton University and the oldest debate union in theUnited States.^[1] Its precursors, the American Whig Society and the Cliosophic Society, were founded at Princeton in 1769 and 1765.

The Society frequently hosts events open to all Princeton students, as well as to faculty and community members. These include the Society's monthly Senate Debates on topics related to national or campus policy, lectures, discussion dinners with guest speakers, and social events. The Society also oversees four subsidiary groups: the International Relations Council (IRC), Princeton's Model Congress (PMC), Princeton Debate Panel (PDP), and Princeton Mock Trial (PMT).

The two original societies continue as "houses" within the larger American Whig–Cliosophic Society, with Whig considered the more liberal house and Clio the more conservative.^[2]

The American Whig–Cliosophic Society has its ancestry in the literary institutions of the Plain-Dealing Club (Whig) and the Well-Meaning Club (Clio), both formed around 1765.^[3] An intense rivalry between these clubs led to their suppression by the university in 1769.^[3] Persuasion fromWilliam Paterson and other alumni led to presidentJohn Witherspoon to permit successor organizations.^[4] Shortly thereafter, the American Whig Society formed on June 24, 1769 by several students includingPhilip M. Freneau, andHugh Henry Brackenridge; when James Madison enrolled at the college the following month, he became a member. The Cliosophic Society formed on June 8, 1770 by Nathan Perkins, Robert Stewart, John Smith, and Issac Smith.^[3][5][a]

Whig derived its name from the "American Whig" essays byWilliam Livingston, a trustee of the college, while Clio derived its name from Paterson's "Cliosophic Address" at a recent commencement; the name was a translation of the Greek for "praise of wisdom" (there was no association with Clio, the muse of history).^[4] Both societies were assigned rooms inNassau Hall.^[7]

The societies in their early years served as institutions for members to practice oratory skills, engage in discussions about contemporary issues, and engage in literary activities. Before theAmerican Revolution, they provided future leaders likeJames Madison,Aaron Burr, and others a place to develop these skills.^[8][4] However, much of the history of the society's other activities during this time were lost in a fire in 1802; the only documents remaining from this period relate to the recurring "Paper Wars," where members of each society would deride each other through verse.^[9] The societies became dormant during the Revolution, with Clio resuming in 1781 and Whig in 1782.^[10][4] From this point until around the 1880s when the societies had their greatest influence on Princeton campus life.^[4]

To one historian, the societies "functioned as colleges within the College of New Jersey," with each respective society having its officers, traditions, curriculum, bylaws, libraries, and diplomas.^[11] Talented members were given exclusive opportunities to deliver special addresses and speak in debates. Meetings were held to allow members to practice ahead of these events.^[12] Admittance was selective, focusing on academically accomplished students,^[13] and much of the societies' efforts were focused on glory and high achievement over the rest of the student body.^[11] The societies served the additional purpose of providing social opportunities to students who were under a rigorous and tightly controlled schedule.^[11]

The societies moved to the university's new library building, Stanhope Hall, in 1805.^[14]

In the decades before theCivil War, the societies frequently debated the subject ofslavery. Despite their regional differences, both societies voted regularly in support of slavery's continuation and opposition to emancipation. The subject united the two societies, which otherwise often disagreed.^[2] Clio's members were usually northerners, while Whigs typically came from the southern states.^[2]

Competition fromeating clubs, sports teams, and other student activities eventually drew members away from the societies. Prompted by declining memberships, the societies were merged to form the American Whig–Cliosophic Society in 1928.

The Society's first female president was Tina Ravitz in 1975.^[15]

The organization's modern role is to serve as an umbrella organization for political and debating activity at Princeton, as well as host speakers, dinners, lectures, and social events.

In 2024, the society voted to adopt a policy of institutional neutrality based on theUniversity of Chicago'sKalven Report and banned considering a speaker's political, ideological, and religious beliefs when inviting them.^[16][17] The society held a candidate forum for the 2024Democraticprimary inNew Jersey's 3rd congressional district, the first event of its kind in the society's history.^[18]

Originally, the Whig and Cliosophic debating societies' unofficial colors were red and blue.^[19] However, its colors changed after theCivil War when Princeton University adopted orange and black as its colors.^[19]

The Princeton Debate Panel (PDP) is a collegiatedebating society that competes in sanctioned debates by theAmerican Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) league, of which it was a founding member.^[20] In the APDA, PDP has won the Team of the Year award a record eight times and the Speaker of the Year Award a record nine times.^[20] PDP hosts a high school and a collegiate tournament during the academic year.^[20]

Princeton Mock Trial (PMT) is amock trial program that competes with three teams.^[21] In theAmerican Mock Trial Association, it ranked 67th in the 2023–2024 season,^[22] 124th in the 2022–2023 season,^[23] and 175th in the 2021–2022 season.^[24] It ranked 2nd in the American Mock Trial Association National Championship in 2014.^[25] It annually hosts two Moot Court tournaments for local high schools.^[21]

The International Relations Council (IRC) is a forum for international issues on campus.^[26] It houses the PrincetonModel United Nations program, which hosts a high school conference, Princeton Model United Nationals Conference and a collegiate conference, Princeton Diplomatic Invitational.^[26] The program also features the Princeton Model UN Travel Team, which competes on the regional and international collegiate circuits.^[26]

Princeton Model Congress (PMC) hosts an annualmodel congress conference inWashington D.C. for high schoolers.^[27] The conference simulates all three branches of federal government and draws approximately 1,200 participants.^[27]

The Honorary Debate Panel (WCHDP) sponsors and promotes prize debates at Princeton University.^[28] Annually-held debates and oratory contests include the Lynde Prize Debate, the Class of 1876 Memorial Prize for Debate in Politics, the Maclean Prize and Junior Orator Awards, the Walter E. Hope Prizes in Speaking and Debating, the Spencer Trask Medals for Debating, and the William Rusher ’44 Prize in Debating.^[28]

To become a member, Princeton students are required to attend and sign in at three Whig-Clio events.^[29] Members of Whig-Clio subsidiaries are automatically considered members in the American Whig–Cliosophic Society.^[29]

The James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service is a longstanding tradition and the highest distinction bestowed by the Whig-Cliosophic Society to individuals committed to the "betterment of society" who have confronted "some of society’s biggest challenges". The first woman recipient wasGolda Meir in December 1974.^[15] The full list of recipients is below.^[30]

In March 2021, the Society voted to revokeSenator Ted Cruz's award after he attempted to overturn the results of the2020 U.S. presidential election based on false claims of voter fraud.^[31] The Society reversed course a month later and decided not to revoke the award.^[32]

The Governing Council is the primary decision-making body of the Society when the Assembly, the body that includes all undergraduate members in good standing, is not in session. It consists of the executive officers, non-executive officers, and subsidiary heads. The executive officers, who include the President, Vice President, Secretary, President of the Senate, Director of Program, Speaker of the Whig Party, and Chair of the Cliosophic Party, are elected by the members of the Society to one-year terms and each have one vote on the Council.^[33] The Council is responsible for confirming events, appointing non-executive officers, and making other important decisions for the Society. A quorum for binding decisions is at least half of the voting members, and votes are typically conducted by secret ballot. The Council's decisions can be overturned by the Assembly or deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Compliance Committee.^[33] The current Governing Council is led by President Samuel Kligman.

The Society has had many notable members throughout its history. In politics and government, members have included U.S. PresidentsJames Madison^[34] andWoodrow Wilson;^[35] Vice PresidentsAaron Burr^[34] andGeorge M. Dallas;^[36] and Supreme Court JusticesSamuel Alito,^[34]Oliver Ellsworth,^[34] andWilliam Paterson.^[1] Influential scholars such asJohn Rawls^[37] andJoseph Nye^[38] have also been members. The society has also included renowned writers and journalists, includingF. Scott Fitzgerald^[39] andBooth Tarkington.^[40] Other prominent members have includedAdlai Stevenson II,^[34] Ted Cruz,^[34]Ralph Nader,^[41] andPaul Sarbanes.^[42]

In 2018, Whig-Clio co-presidents disinvited conservativeUniversity of Pennsylvania law professorAmy Wax after she had made controversial remarks about the quality of her Black students.^[43]

In 2020, a conservative member of the society stated that he had proposed invitingTheWashington Post columnistGeorge Will and federal judgeNeomi Rao to speak at the society, but its governing council had voted not to.^[44]

• Father Bombo's Pilgrimage to Mecca
• List of college literary societies

• Looney, J. Jefferson (1996).Nurseries of Letters and Republicanism: A Brief History of the American Whig-Cliosophic Society and its Predecessors, 1765-1941. Princeton: American Whig-Cliosophic Society.
• Durkee, Robert (2022).The New Princeton Companion. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

• McLachlan, James (1974),"The Choice of Hercules American Student Societies in the Early 19th Century",The University in Society, Volume II, Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp. 449–494,doi:10.1515/9780691196701-004,ISBN 978-0-691-19670-1
• Williams, Charles Richard (1916).The Cliosophic Society, Princeton University: A Study of Its History in Commemoration of Its Sesquicentennial Anniversary. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

• Official web site

• Student debating societies
• Princeton University
• College literary societies in the United States
• 1765 establishments in New Jersey
• Student organizations established in the 1760s

• CS1: long volume value
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
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• Pages using infobox fraternity with missing members