Henry Kissinger interview on CNN (YouTube screenshot)
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger died at the age of 100. He was possibly the most controversial figure to serve in that role due to his handling of America’s military campaigns in the later years of the war in Vietnam. This led many to accuse him of committing war crimes.
Kissinger served as the national security advisor under President Richard Nixon during that president’s first term in office from 1969 to 1973. He then became the US Secretary of State in September of 1973.
Henry Kissinger would serve for almost four years in that role and under two different Presidents. He continued in the post under President Gerald Ford after Richard Nixon was forced to resign due to the Watergate scandal in August of 1974.
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Born in Fürth, Bavaria, Germany, in 1923, Henry Kissinger emigrated to the United States with his Jewish family in 1938, escaping just before the Holocaust began. He served in the United States Army during World War II and then went on to study at Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D. in government in 1954. After teaching at Harvard, Kissinger became involved in government service, serving as a consultant to the National Security Council and the Department of State. He joined the Nixon administration in 1969 as National Security Advisor.
Henry Kissinger later gained prominence from his close association with New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who in the 1960s was considered likely to be the Republican candidate for president at some point. But Rockefeller lost out to Richard Nixon in 1968 and when he became president, Nixon recognized Kissinger’s abilities and made him the national security advisor.
Over the years, however, allegations surfaced that explained how Henry Kissinger ingratiated himself with Richard Nixon. Kissinger was involved in peace talks to end the ongoing war in Vietnam during the 1968 presidential election. At that time, the Democrat Lyndon Johnson was the outgoing president and his Vice President, Hubert Humphrey, was the Democratic Party’s nominee facing Nixon in the national election.
It has been charged that Henry Kissinger worked to block any breakthroughs in the peace talks because that would have helped Humphrey’s candidacy. Richard Nixon eventually won a very narrow election, taking only 43.4% of the popular vote.
Henry Kissinger’s foreign policy was based on the concept of realpolitik, which emphasizes the importance of power and national interest in international relations. He believed that the United States should maintain a strong military presence in the world and be willing to use force to protect its interests. Kissinger was also a strong advocate of détente, which is the policy of reducing tensions and easing hostilities between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Kissinger’s foreign policy has been praised by some for its realism and pragmatism, while others have criticized it as being too cynical and amoral. His legacy remains a subject of debate among historians and foreign policy experts.
He was reviled by American political conservatives for implementing the “détente” policy by which the US engaged in direct diplomatic efforts for the first time with what was then known as “Red China.” This led to America’s recognition of communist China and the establishment of diplomatic ties. This also led to nuclear reduction treaties with the Soviet Union. But conservatives saw this as a betrayal of America’s commitment to fight against Communism.
Henry Kissinger was also personally involved in the decision to order the bombing of communist guerilla bases in the neutral nation Cambodia. The bombings were carried out in secret and many civilians died. For this he was branded a war criminal.
Kissinger left public life for good in 1977. He would spend the next 45 years writing about diplomacy and history and playing a role as an unofficial diplomat and advisor to world leaders.
Henry Kissinger died on Wednesday at his Connecticut home and is expected to be buried on Thursday at a private family service. At a later date, there will be a memorial service in New York City.
