Henry Kissinger, Influential Diplomat and Controversial Statesman, Dies at 100
Henry Kissinger, a key figure in U.S. foreign policy and a controversial statesman, passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. Kissinger served as the national security advisor and secretary of state for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, leaving an indelible mark on 20th-century diplomacy.
A consultant to nearly every U.S. president post his tenure at the State Department in 1977, Kissinger played a pivotal role in the historic opening to China in 1972. His legacy includes being a hawk during the Vietnam War, a master strategist in geopolitics, and an architect of Middle East shuttle diplomacy. The German-born Kissinger, known for his realpolitik approach, was both praised and criticized for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his involvement in ending the war in Southeast Asia.
Born Heinz Alfred Kissinger in 1923, Kissinger and his family fled Nazi Germany in 1938. After becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1943, he served in the U.S. Army during the final days of World War II and later pursued his education at Harvard on a scholarship. Graduating in 1954 with a doctorate in foreign policy, Kissinger spent almost two decades as a member of Harvard’s faculty.
Beyond academia, Kissinger’s ambitions led him into politics. In the 1950s, he worked on a special project for the Rockefeller Brothers and later served as a foreign policy adviser to Nelson Rockefeller during his presidential campaigns. His relationship with Richard Nixon, whom he advised on foreign policy, would change the course of history.
Kissinger played a central role in Nixon’s groundbreaking foreign policy achievement of opening U.S. relations with China. After Nixon’s reelection in 1972, he was appointed secretary of state and contributed to ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam, earning him the Nobel Prize. However, Kissinger also faced criticism for his role in widening the Vietnam conflict earlier in Nixon’s presidency and the bombing of Cambodia.
In 1973, amidst the Watergate scandal, Kissinger led diplomatic efforts to end the Yom Kippur War. His involvement in the military coup in Chile has been scrutinized, with conflicting views on the extent of U.S. participation. Despite Nixon’s resignation, President Gerald Ford retained Kissinger as secretary of state.
Kissinger’s fame extended beyond politics, as he embraced celebrity status in the 1970s, participating in events like the world premiere of The Godfather and appearing on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of Bob Hope. He continued to be a public figure for decades, even making a cameo appearance as a weatherman on CBS’s morning show in 1991.
In later years, Kissinger remained influential, serving on boards, universities, and penning memoirs. His actions in facilitating the deposed Shah of Iran’s entry into the U.S. for cancer treatment in 1979 had far-reaching consequences, contributing to the Iran hostage crisis.
Kissinger’s legacy includes founding Kissinger Associates in 1982, a firm representing nations and corporate giants. Despite controversies, he remained active in public discussions, offering insights on issues such as artificial intelligence until earlier this year.
Survived by his wife, Nancy Maginnes, and children Elizabeth and David, Kissinger will be interred at a private family service. A memorial service in New York City will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Animal Medical Center or the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has died at 100. As the media prepares to sanitize his legacy, history will not forget his true record of bloodshed and war crimes in the service of Empire pic.twitter.com/RXSbCXQfcw
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) November 30, 2023