“At the same time,” he said, “I think there are some important questions that need to be openly discussed. Why do we observe the patterns we observe? Why do we make the choices that we make?”

Summers imparted to the students a lesson he has learned as president.

“When I left Washington, I didn’t leave politics entirely behind,” he said.

His apparent candor throughout his remarks struck some students in attendance.

“I was actually extremely impressed with how honestly he seemed to respond to the questions,” rising high school junior Everett Wallace said. “Before this, it seemed like his words would have such a huge political impact that he couldn’t say anything.”

Summers drew a few laughs with quips woven through his remarks.

He waved off an introduction by Summer School Dean Robert A. Lue with a self-deprecating joke about economists. When widespread laughter did not ensue, Summers waited for a few seconds before adding, “Think about that for a minute.”

—Staff writer Samuel C. Scott can be reached at sscott@fas.harvard.edu.