Word has spread of the passing of Henry Kissinger, a man who influenced US foreign policy for several decades. He died at the age of 100 on Wednesday, December 29th, at his home in Connecticut. The announcement came from his consulting firm, Kissinger Associates, in a statement. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Henry Kissinger, a prominent figure in American diplomacy and Nobel laureate, dies at the age of 100
Heinz Alfred Kissinger, as he was named at birth, was born on May 27, 1923 in Furth, a city in the Bavarian region of Germany. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1943 and served in World War II. Later, he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and a doctorate from Harvard University.
Henry Kissinger served as Secretary of State under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford from 1969 to 1977. After that, he remained an important player in US foreign policy.
The diplomat played a crucial role in opening relations with China, initiating the thawing of relations with the Soviet Union (USSR), ending the Vietnam War, and negotiating the resolution of the Yom Kippur War in Israel in 1973.
Kissinger, a prominent figure in American foreign policy even after leaving the White House
“I work about 15 hours a day,” Kissinger said in 2023, just a few weeks before his 100th birthday, in an interview with CBS News. He also expressed his belief that world leaders such as Xi Jinping or Vladimir Putin should listen to his advice.
It is worth noting that even after leaving the official position at the White House in 1977, Kissinger remained a prominent presence in US foreign policy circles for decades. Until the late 1990s, he continued to publicly analyze global events. In addition, he provided consulting services to businessmen and privately advised US presidents.
“I had the honor to maintain dialogue and consultations with 10 presidents, starting with Kennedy. I had a very good relationship with Bush. He invited me to speak with him quite often,” explained the diplomat in 2012.
More recently, Kissinger revealed that he offered foreign policy advice to President Donald Trump. The latter praised Kissinger’s “immense talent” at a meeting at the White House in 2017.
Former US President George W. Bush stated on Wednesday, following the news of Kissinger’s death, that “America has lost one of the most reliable and important voices in foreign policy.”
Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973. It was said that he helped orchestrate the Paris Peace Accords, which negotiated the withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam. The American press referred to President Nixon’s national security advisor as the “true president”.
