Gerald R. Ford, 38th president of the United States, offered his perspective on the political and social climate of what he termed the "American Century" to a packed house at the Kennedy School of Government's (KSG) ARCO Forum last night.

A major theme of Ford's speech was that of political moderation. He urged young Americans interested in politics to shy away from righteousness and extremism.

"I learned that an adversary is not the same thing as an enemy. I learned to fight hard for my beliefs without questioning the motives or patriotism of those who believed otherwise," he said.

"You have to win an election in order to achieve anything," Ford said. "[Extremists] will not win an election."

Ford also warned of this century's gradual move toward the "security state," which he characterized as the government's attempt to minimize the risk connected with market forces.

"[This move] can all too easily lead to complacency, that intellectual narcotic which muffles the voice of originality and numbs the brain to innovation," he said.

"Security can be a good thing," Ford added. "It is a more noble motive than profit, but it is precisely those individuals who take risks…that set our standards."

As president, Ford was "an exemplar of the noble center," according to Joseph S. Nye, KSG dean.

Ford, a Republican, once famously characterized himself as a "conservative in fiscal affairs, a moderate in domestic affairs, and a liberal in foreign policy."