Hillary Rodham Clinton made history yesterday, becoming the only first lady to ever speak at Harvard.

She alluded to a time in the perhaps not-so-distant future when the president's spouse will be a man.

"The appropriate title, probably, is first mate," she said to a rousing round of applause from the audience.

The John F. Kennedy School of Government's ARCO Forum was filled to capacity for Clinton's hourlong talk, which touched on issues of technology, education and America's communities.

"If we think about America's future progress and prosperity, I think we would agree that, to a large extent, that depends upon strong and stable families that are raising children who are able to function well in a world where change is the only certainty," Clinton said.

Clinton cautioned that while advancements in technology may be create a global village, there are limits to what science can do.

"On the eve of this new century we know that all of you who are students here face far many more possibilities than I even could have dreamed of," Clinton said.

"Technology is bringing the world much closer together," she continued. "But, virtual reality will never substitute for human connections and relationships."

During her speech, Clinton drew on her book, It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us.

"Each one of us is responsible for helping to build a healthy functional environment in which these children are raised," the first lady said. "No family is immune to the influences of a larger society."

Clinton expressed optimism in the future of communities which are using small projects and locally-based initiatives to effect change.

"Small investments and changes in attitude leading to incremental changes often produce unexpectedly big results," Clinton said.

"I have seen the quality of life improve because [of initiatives through which] guns were taken out of the hands of young people and basketballs put into them," she said.

But Clinton said that the federal government also has an important role to play in rebuilding the nation's communities.

"I know that government is not a cure all for every social ill," she said. "I view government as a partner of families, communities and businesses addressing our common problems--it is government working side by side with the rest of us."

The first lady said that issues concerning women and children in particular need to gain more attention in the governmental arena.