Henry Kissinger Turns 100

Henry Kissinger interview on CNN (YouTube screenshot)

Henry Kissinger is a hero to many, a Noble Peace Prize laureate who ended the war in Vietnam and who was the architect of détente, the opening of diplomacy with Communist China – as well as the Soviet Union – after the American government refused to even recognize that nation’s existence for more than 20 years.

But to many more, Henry Kissinger is also a villain for having orchestrated a massive secret bombing campaign in neutral Cambodia to attack North Vietnamese bases of operations there, bombings that killed countless civilians. Some call him a wat criminal.

Well, whatever your opinion of the man, the German born former U.S. Secretary of State just celebrated his 100th birthday, making him literally the last man standing from the Richard Nixon Era.

Kissinger’s family fled Germany before it was too late. He went on to serve in the American Army during World War II where he put his knowledge of Germany and the German language to use. By the 1960s he became somewhat of a celebrity as an expert on foreign affairs, decades before cable news networks provided a platform for just about anyone to become a famous commentator.

He first came to prominence as an advisor and a confidant of New York’s Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller who was expected by many to be the front runner for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1968. But when Richard Nixon became the nominee, Kissinger moved over to Nixon’s team. Richard Nixon despised Rockefeller whom he thought of as an elitist snob and too liberal for the Republican Party. But in a testament to Kissinger’s ability, Nixon knew he would be an asset and made Henry Kissinger his National Security Advisor after taking office.

Henry Kissinger has even been accused over the years of interfering in then President Lyndon Johnson’s administration’s negotiations with the North Vietnamese government in Paris. Before the 1968 elections were held, Kissinger allegedly talked with North Vietnamese representatives and made a deal to prevent any breakthroughs in the peace talks. This was done because any such breakthrough would have helped the campaign of Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Nixon’s democratic opponent.

Henry Kissinger left office and public life in January 1977 after President Ford left office. But he has continued to be a central figure in American politics for decades, advising Presidents and business leaders alike.

Most recently, Kissinger raised the alarm over what the ongoing war in Ukraine could do for America’s standing in the world. He was concerned by the government of China’s intercession and attempt to act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine.

Henry Kissinger’s son David Kissinger said of his father in The Washington Post that hitting age 100 “might have an air of inevitability for anyone familiar with his force of character and love of historical symbolism. Not only has he outlived most of his peers, eminent detractors and students, but he has also remained indefatigably active throughout his 90s.”

From Henry Kissinger’s official biography:
Dr. Kissinger was born in Fuerth, Germany, came to the United States in 1938, and was naturalized a United States citizen in 1943. He served in the Army from February 1943 to July 1946. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1950 and received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University in 1952 and 1954. From 1954 until 1969 he was a member of the faculty of Harvard University, in both the Department of Government and the Center for International Affairs. He was Director of the Harvard International Seminar from 1952 to 1969.

At present, Henry Kissinger is Chairman of Kissinger Associates, Inc., an international consulting firm. He is also a member of the International Council of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.; a Counselor to and Trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; an Honorary Governor of the Foreign Policy Association; and an Honor Member of the International Olympic Committee. Among his other activities, Dr. Kissinger served as a member of the Board of Directors of ContiGroup Companies, Inc. from 1988-2014 and remains an Advisor to the Board, a position he also holds at American Express Company since 2005, after serving on the Board from 1984. He is also a Trustee Emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; a Director Emeritus of Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc.; and a Director of the International Rescue Committee.