"I say candidly that it was a learningexperience for me and a learning experience forthe country," said Specter, adding that he had "noidea" at the time of how painful or widespreadsexual harassment was.

Specter also emphasized the strength of hisrecord on issues like abortion rights and women'shealth.

"The issue of the Hill-Thomas hearings will beokay once the people of America know as much aboutmy record as do the people of Pennsylvania,"Specter said, noting that he had been re-electedto the Senate just a year after the hearings.

Finally, Specter, who is Jewish, discussedwhether his religion should be a factor. Herepeated his frequent assertion that if Americaisn't ready for a Jewish president and shouldn'tbe ready for a Jewish president, "I say damn thetorpedoes, full speed ahead. I'm going to try."

Short Protest

Two College groups--the Harvard Republican Cluband the Harvard Radcliffe Alliance forLife--briefly displayed two banners, during thespeech, both expressing opposition to abortionrights.

The first banner read, "America Votes Pro-Life'94-'96," while the second one read "Lincoln'sParty Will Never Abandon the Unborn."

Kennedy School security guards removed thebanners about two minutes later.

Mark J. Barker '95, who said he waseditor-in-chief of Peninsula, asked Specterabout the hypocrisy of defending free speech whilenot allowing a peaceful protest.

Kennedy School Dean and Provost AlbertCarnesale, who introduced Specter, interjected.

"I'll take responsibility," Carnesale said. "Wealso don't have advertisements for gas stations.