Worse yet, the Polish Communist Party newspaper decided to comment on Harvard's invitation by saying, "By the way, I wonder what this learned group wanted to hear from Walesa, a man who had proudly announced in an interview with Oriana Fallaci that he had...never read a single book from cover to cover."

In place of Walesa, Harvard invited novelist-poet Carlos Fuentes to speak at Commencement. Fuentes had also been an ambassador to Mexico from France. According to Bliss Professor of Latin American History and Economics John Womack, Fuentes had at one time been suspected of being a Soviet agent by the CIA and was denied a visa to the U.S. during the 1960s.

In his talk, Fuentes urged that a non-interventionist policy be followed by the United States in Central American affairs. He also urged understanding for the relatively inexperienced governments of Central America when he said, "Let us walk together outside the night of repression and hunger and intervention, even if for you the sun is at high noon and for us at a quarter to twelve."

1984

Then in 1984, a monarch accepted Harvard's invitation. King Juan Carlos of Spain, the man who had guided his country from the totalitarianism of Gen. Francisco Franco to a fragile democracy, came to speak to the graduating class.

The king had very adroitly approached the moderates of his country, without antagonizing the outlawed Communists. As a result of his successful diplomacy, Juan Carlos was able to sign a constitution in 1978, and the first free elections in over 40 years were held in Spain.

1985

With Juan Carlos it seems, started a streak of sensational Commencement speakers. America's money man came to Cambridge, three years after America's greatest capitalist did. Federal Reserve Board Chair Paul A. Volcker--considered the second most powerful man in the nation--took office with the aim of achieving low inflation and steady growth for the American economy.

To reduce inflation, he responded by shrinking the money supply. As a result, "Fed bashing" came into vogue, and Volcker became a frequent visitor to Senate committees, testifying about monetary policy. In addition, he shuttled between banking capitals and ultimately helped in the restructuring of the international debt.

1986

Having had a king, ambassador, poet, professor and economist at the podium, Harvard decided to extend an invitation to a baron. As a result, Lord Peter Alexander Rupert Carrington addressed the 336th Commencement exercises.

Carrington, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), was at one time considered a strong candidate for British prime minister.

Previously, Carrington had been foreign secretary under then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, but had resigned soon after Britain became involved in the Falkland Islands conflict.

In 1979, Carrington successfully concluded negotiations for the creation of a democratic Zimbabwe.

1987