The Great Debate of 2025: Opening Remarks

Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage?

By William F.B. Vodrey – debate moderator
The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved

Editor’s note: The subject of the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate at the January 2025 Roundtable meeting was: “Which individual from the Civil War would be the most interesting to sit down and speak with over dinner or a tasty beverage?” Five members made presentations on the topic; the article below was the opening remarks made by the moderator of the debate.


We’re here tonight for the annual Dick Crews Memorial Debate, named after my longtime predecessor as moderator, Dick Crews. Dick once told me that the debate got its start as a Roundtable tradition because of the difficulty of finding speakers who were willing to travel to Cleveland in January! In moderating again tonight for, God help us all, my 21st year, I stand on the shoulders of giants, including Dick.

Dick was one of the first people to welcome me to the Roundtable, and I always enjoyed his company. We sometimes disagreed on points of history, but hardly ever on politics. Not long after I joined the Roundtable, he recruited me for a debate on the most important battle of the Civil War, for which I’m still grateful. I chose the 1862 Battle of New Orleans, which I think surprised him. I certainly miss him, as I know many of you do, too.

William Vodrey

The topic this year was selected by Roundtable President Gene Claridge, as is the customary privilege of his office. The topic is, “The Table is Set, So Who Are You Bringing Along?” Each of the debaters has chosen a person from the Civil War, as well as a beverage and a topic of discussion with that person.

Interestingly, to me at least, all of the debaters chose generals – none chose a civilian like Frederick Douglass, Jefferson Davis, Harriet Tubman, Edwin Stanton, or Mary Todd Lincoln… or her husband, Ol’ What’s-His-Name. The order of debate was determined by random draw. The debaters will present their arguments in order as follows.

John Syroney has chosen Dan Sickles. John will ask Sickles, over scotch, why the general chose to move the Third Corps forward from Cemetery Ridge to the Peach Orchard at Gettysburg.

Emily Dickinson has chosen Ulysses S. Grant. Emily will discuss with Grant, over London Fogs, how his Mexican War experience shaped his military plans during the Civil War.

Terry McHale has chosen Thomas Francis Meagher. Terry will discuss with Meagher, over 69th N.Y. Regimental Cocktails, the general’s expectations for his veterans eventually helping him expel the British from Ireland.

Jake Collens has chosen Robert E. Lee. Jake will discuss with Lee, over buttermilk, what the general might have done differently during the Civil War, and if Lee had any regrets.

Paul Siedel has chosen Patrick Cleburne. Paul will discuss with the Cleburne, over Irish whiskey, neat, Cleburne’s proposal to let slaves serve in the Confederate Army and thus win their freedom.

Debaters may speculate as to how their selected generals might have replied. Each will have five minutes to speak, and then take questions from the audience for up to another five minutes. The debaters will then participate in a general discussion/rebuttal session (“the scrum”), after which those in attendance at the meeting will be asked to vote on which presentation they find most compelling. That is the criterion I ask everyone to keep in mind: which presentation is most compelling? The winner will, of course, receive… fabulous prizes!

I strongly encouraged each debater to time himself or herself while practicing at home. In past years, some debaters have been surprised and even irritated by how quickly their time passes. I hate to cut anyone off, but I will when I must, to be fair to the other debaters.

Of course, I’m grateful to each of the debaters for agreeing to take part tonight. I must say, this was one of the easier debates to recruit people for. And I will say again, as I’ve said in years past, that all are welcome – and encouraged – to participate as debaters, regardless of sex, age, historical expertise, or length of Roundtable membership. We don’t expect anyone to be an absolute expert on the Civil War, and diversity among the debaters is certainly something I always strive for.

My thanks to Steve Pettyjohn and Bob Pence, who will help me count the ballots.

And now, let us begin!

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