Powell stood up immediately following Bhattacharya's speech to shake her hand as she stepped away from the podium.

As expected, Powell used the majority of his speaking time to address the changing nature of world power in the shadow of the Cold War. The general stressed the importance of maintaining America's military might even as he acknowledged the need for budget cuts and downsizing.

"The world map no longer has nice neat lines separating friend from foe," he said. "The world is still depending on the power of our democracy. We have the responsibility to respond."

"We will be judged in the future classrooms of Harvard by whether we rise to that responsibility," he added.

Powell praised President Bill Clinton for committing America to support its allies in the spirit of former President Harry S. Truman and Gen. George Marshall. But the general cautioned that the United States must continue a military strategy based on the ability to wage two wars at one time. And he said American forces are still needed overseas, even in peacetime.

"Yes, reductions are possible...but we must not reduce forces overseas to the point where our commitment is in doubt by our friends," he said. "We must not reduce our forces to such a level that we can only deal with one crisis."

Powell also said he hoped for an eventual elimination of nuclear weapons, and he said that before the decision is made to commit American forces to any engagement, it is necessary to outline very specific goals for them to accomplish.

Powell's address followed and was dwarfed in length by a speech by Rudenstine, who spoke of his vision for Harvard of greater collaboration among the schools and a commitment to public service.

While acknowledging that the University-wide academic process he initiated last year had "occasionally been squabbish," Rudenstine said it had fostered greater understanding among Harvard's deans and their schools.

"Whatever the plan, it's always going to be partly wrong," Rudenstine said, "but at least we can get one out there."

The plan will be implemented in conjunction with an upcoming, $2 billion University-wide capital campaign.

In a speech that occasionally strayed from his prepared script, Rudenstine said his three priorities for Harvard were reforming undergraduate education; upgrading dormitories and improving residential life; and redesigning degree programs to keep pace with changes in the workplace.