“The whole part about saying he’s not a man who’s very well-liked—that was completely unnecessary,” Alvarenga said. “I think Palmer did that on purpose.”

And Chambers noted that the audience questions were tougher as well. He added that Palmer may have played a role in selecting tougher than usual questions—students e-mail in questions in advance and the teaching staff selects the questions.

But Palmer insisted other guests have had to answer equally challenging probes.

“All of our guests have received questions that were difficult for them, and it may actually be more challenging for a dining hall worker or a recent Harvard graduate...than for an accomplished global leader like President Summers,” Palmer said, referring to previous guest lecturers. “For a man like Larry Summers who spends much of his work time addressing various constituencies, today’s interview was all in a day’s work.”

Alvarenga said she was impressed by Summers’ ability to handle tough questions.

“I think Summers was faced with a lot of difficult questions and was able to maintain his composure really well and answer them really well,” Alvarenga said.

Palmer also said he hoped the class would take yesterday’s exchange as a lesson to speak directly with people in power.

“I think that it’s a responsibility to speak openly and ask challenging questions to those who sit at the very top of our highly hierarchical society,” Palmer said.

In one direct question, a student asked Summers about the future of the popular class, which is uncertain with Palmer’s departure. Palmer said Summers could probably find a way to ensure the course was continued if he wanted to and that he would be “delighted” to continue at Harvard in his current capacity, but he has not been asked to stay.

“Failing that, if the President needs an assistant to help with vacuuming Massachusetts Hall, my services may be available,” Palmer joked.

—Staff writer Stephen M. Marks can be reached at marks@fas.harvard.edu.