Henry Kissinger | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, c. 1973 | |
| 56th United States Secretary of State | |
| In office September 22, 1973 – January 20, 1977 | |
| President | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | William Rogers |
| Succeeded by | Cyrus Vance |
| 7th United States National Security Advisor | |
| In office January 20, 1969 – November 3, 1975 | |
| President |
|
| Deputy |
|
| Preceded by | Walt Rostow |
| Succeeded by | Brent Scowcroft |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Heinz Alfred Kissinger May 27, 1923 Fürth, Bavaria, Germany |
| Died | November 29, 2023 (aged 100) Kent, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Citizenship |
|
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
| Occupation |
|
| Civilian awards | 1973 Nobel Peace Prize |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit |
|
| Battles/wars |
|
| Military awards | Bronze Star |
Henry Alfred Kissinger[a] (May 27, 1923 – November 29, 2023) was an American diplomat and political scientist who served as United States Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 and National Security Advisor from 1969 to 1975, in the presidential administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.[4]
Born in Germany, Kissinger emigrated to the United States in 1938 as a Jewish refugee fleeing Nazi persecution. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he attended Harvard University, where he excelled academically. He later became a professor of government at the university and earned an international reputation as an expert on nuclear weapons and foreign policy. He acted as a consultant to government agencies, think tanks, and the presidential campaigns of Nelson Rockefeller and Nixon before being appointed as national security advisor and later secretary of state by President Nixon.
An advocate of a pragmatic approach to geopolitics known as Realpolitik, Kissinger pioneered the policy of détente with the Soviet Union, orchestrated an opening of relations with China, engaged in "shuttle diplomacy" in the Middle East to end the Yom Kippur War, and negotiated the Paris Peace Accords, which ended American involvement in the Vietnam War. For his role in negotiating the accords, he was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize, which sparked controversy.[5] Kissinger is also associated with controversial U.S. policies including its bombing of Cambodia, involvement in the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, support for Argentina's military junta in its Dirty War, support for Indonesia in its invasion of East Timor, and support for Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War and Bangladesh genocide.[6] Widely considered by scholars to have been an effective secretary of state,[7] Kissinger was also accused by critics of war crimes for the civilian death toll of the policies he pursued and for his role in facilitating U.S. support for authoritarian regimes.[8][9]
After leaving government, Kissinger founded Kissinger Associates, an international geopolitical consulting firm which he ran from 1982 until his death. He authored over a dozen books on diplomatic history and international relations. His advice was sought by American presidents of both political parties.[10][11]
- ^ Kissinger, Henry A. (April 3, 2020). "The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Forever Alter the World Order". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Kalb, Marvin; Kalb, Bernard (1974). Kissinger. Little, Brown. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-09-122300-7.
- ^
- "Kissinger". Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- "Kissinger". Merriam-webster.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
- ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize 1973". Nobel Foundation. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ Feldman, Burton (2000). The Nobel Prize: A History Of Genius, Controversy, and Prestige. Arcade Publishing. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-55970-537-0.
Two members publicly resigned when the peace prize was awarded to Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho in 1973 for a cease-fire in the Vietnam War.
- ^ Bass, Gary (September 21, 2013). "Blood Meridian". The Economist. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- ^ "TRIP Snap Poll III: Seven Questions on Current Global Issues for International Relations Scholars" (PDF). p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "Protesters Heckle Kissinger, Denounce Him for 'War Crimes'". The Times of Israel. January 30, 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ Nevius, James (February 13, 2016). "Does Hillary Clinton see that invoking Henry Kissinger harms her campaign?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
many consider Kissinger a war criminal, most famously Christopher Hitchens, who, in a lengthy two-part article for Harper's in 2001 (later expanded into the book and documentary, The Trial of Henry Kissinger), laid out his case that Kissinger should be brought up on charges 'for war crimes, for crimes against humanity, and for offenses against common or customary or international law, including conspiracy to commit murder, kidnap, and torture'.
- ^ Green, Erica L.; Bennett, Kitty (November 30, 2023). "Kissinger Had the Ear of Presidents. He Had Their Awe and Ire, Too". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ "Every president invites Henry Kissinger to the White House – except Biden". July 9, 2022. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
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