THEY say history never repeats itself, but Donald Trump could be forgiven for thinking that Oxford will never give showbiz-famous Republican US Presidents much of a welcome.

Back in early December 1978, former President Richard Nixon came to the city to speak at the Oxford Union.

The Oxford Mail reported how there was ‘a sharp contrast between the polite applause inside and the chanted protest outside’.

Mr Nixon was given a rousing standing ovation by part of the room, while sullen faces greeted his speech at other quarters.

Speaking four years after the Watergate scandal which forced him to resign from office, the New York Times reported on its front page how Mr Nixon was given a warm reception inside the famous debating chamber.