Vogel, director of the Fairbank Center for East Asian Research and the newly established Asia Center (please see related story, page C-3), instead called on one of his former students in the audience, Carroll R. Bogert '83.

Bogert, then a reporter with Newsweek magazine, asked the president what he learned about democracy in America through his state visit and from the demonstrations that have met him in every city.

"During my current trip to the United States,starting from Hawaii, I got a more specificunderstanding of the American democracy, morespecific than I learned from books," Jiangreplied.

Within the brick and wood confines of thetheater, a dull noise could be heard from thecombined shouts of protesters outside.

"Although I am already 71 years old, my earsstill work very well, so when I was delivering myspeech I did hear sounds from the loudspeakeroutside," Jiang said.

"However, I believe the only approach for me isto speak even louder than it," he said.

Sorry?

Jiang's speech included remarks that someexperts construed as a crack in the door towardsan apology for the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

A question submitted by the Joint Committee forProtesting Jiang Zemin's visit to Harvard took himto task for the government's order to fire uponstudent protesters at Tiananmen Square.

When asked about the decision to use militaryforce in suppressing the student demonstrations,Jiang skirted any mention of the event and insteadvaguely said that China has "enjoyed the supportfrom our people."

"It goes without saying that, naturally, wehave shortcomings and even make some mistakes inour work," he said. "However, we have been workingon a constant basis to further improve our work."

The response was seen as an opening in themurky cloud of Chinese politics characterized bysubtlety and finesse.

"I haven't heard a public leader come thatclose to acknowledging it publicly," said Vogel, afrequent visitor to China who arranged Jiang'sHarvard trip.

A Warm Welcome

Chinese nationals celebrated their president'svisit by waving China's bright red flags alongsidethe Star-Spangled Banner. Chanting "One China,"supporters lined the streets around SandersTheatre and exchanged verbal volleys withanti-Jiang protesters.

The Greater Boston Area Chinese WelcomeCommittee, a coalition of four dozen groups,organized the supporters and handed out miniatureAmerican and Chinese flags to supporters.