Trailed at all times by a gaggle of media, a spirited Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura reveled in Harvardiana at a series of campus appearances yesterday.

Ventura's visit to Harvard culminated in a boisterous appearance on the already-raucous CNBC program "Hardball," which broadcast live from the Kennedy School of Government.

The outspoken governor's comments touched on everything from the Kennedy assassination to his troubles with the press to his agenda for Minnesota.

Most students questioned Ventura about political leadership and policy, while the media focused on controversial remarks the governor gave to a Playboy Magazine interviewer several months ago.

Although his face hardened in response to several queries during the day, Ventura never seemed to forget where he was.

"When you grew up in South Minneapolis, you only heard about Harvard," a smiling Ventura told a group of students.

In several venues, Ventura defended remarks he made about organized religion, which, in the Playboy interview he said was a "sham."

"I have nothing at all against religious people and people's beliefs," he said.