Henry Kissinger, a contentious and powerful figure in US foreign policy, passes away at the age of 100.

The Legacy of Henry Kissinger

At the age of 100, Henry Kissinger, a prominent player in American foreign policy and a former secretary of state, passed away. Globally, his passing has sparked divisive responses. He was regarded as one of the 20th century’s most influential diplomats and scholars of international affairs. He was, yet, also among the most vilified public personalities of his era.

Henry Kissinger’s accomplishments

Among his many achievements as a prominent role in US foreign policy are the following:

1. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor: Under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, he was the National Security Advisor and Secretary of State of the United States.
2. Nobel Peace Prize: In recognition of their joint efforts to broker an end to the Vietnam War, he and Le Duc Tho were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973.

3. Détente with the Soviet Union: He was the driving force for détente with the USSR.
4. Relationship opening with China: He oversaw the People’s Republic of China’s relationship opening.
5. Shuttle Diplomacy in the Middle East: To put a stop to the Yom Kippur War, he used what became known as shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East.

Paris Peace Accords: He was a negotiator of the accords that put an end to US participation in the Vietnam War.

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His Early Life and Education

Henry Kissinger was born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923, in Fürth, Bavaria, Germany. His parents were Paula (née Stern) and Louis Kissinger. Paula was a homemaker, and Louis was a schoolteacher. Kissinger had a younger brother, Walter, who was a businessman. 

Kissinger was the United States Secretary of State. In 1973, he used shuttle diplomacy to end hostilities after the Yom Kippur War.

Henry Kissenger

Henry Kissinger with his brother Walter

Henry Kissinger, a former top US diplomat under Nixon, immigrated to the United States in 1938. He was 15 years old at the time.

Education and academic achievements

Henry Kissinger’s education and academic achievements are quite notable.

1. City College of New York: After completing high school, he enrolled in the City College of New York as a part-time student.
2. Harvard University: He graduated with his B.A. in political science in 1950, and went on to earn a master’s degree in 1952 and a Ph.D. in 1954.
3. Faculty at Harvard: He accepted positions in the prestigious Ivy League university’s Department of Government and its Center for International Affairs from 1954 to 1969.
4. Consultant to the National Security Council: In 1952, while still a graduate student at Harvard, he served as a consultant to the director of the Psychological Strategy Board.
5. Founder of Confluence: He founded a magazine, Confluence, during his time as a graduate student at Harvard.

These accomplishments laid the foundation for his influential career in diplomacy and international relations.

Henry Kissinger’s diplomatic engagements

Henry Kissinger was a significant figure in American foreign policy, and his diplomatic engagements

1. Détente with the Soviet Union: He pioneered the policy of détente with the Soviet Union.
2. Opening of relations with China: He orchestrated an opening of relations with the People’s Republic of China. His influence was so revered in China that Xi Jinping personally called him an ‘old friend^.
3. Shuttle Diplomacy in the Middle East: He engaged in what became known as shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East to end the Yom Kippur War. A new book examines his maneuvering in the Middle East.
4. Paris Peace Accords: He negotiated the Paris Peace Accords, which ended American involvement in the Vietnam War.
5. Influence on US Foreign Policy: His strategic footprints and the foreign policy compass of the United States still carry the unmistakable imprints of Alfred Heinz Kissinger.

Please note that while these are some of his notable diplomatic engagements, his tenure was also marked by controversy, and he was criticized for some of his covert actions at home and abroad.

Impact on Global Politics

Henry Kissinger had a significant impact on global politics:

1. Détente with the Soviet Union: He was responsible for negotiating the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviets.
2. Opening of relations with China: It was Kissinger who, with Zhou Enlai, opened diplomatic communications between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, arguably one of the turning points in the Cold War.
3. End of the Yom Kippur War: Kissinger negotiated the end of the Yom Kippur War between the Arab states and Israel and his shuttle diplomacy paved the way for the Camp David Accord.
4. Influence on US Foreign Policy: His influence over U.S. foreign policy extended beyond his years in office. He played important roles as a consultant and an unofficial envoy for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Under Ronald Reagan, he chaired the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America.
5. Global Reactions: His death has elicited a polarized reaction worldwide. Current and former politicians, mostly on the right, weighed in on his tactics and policies that influenced international relations for decades.
6. Legacy in Global Affairs: Many world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, continued to seek the counsel of Henry Kissinger, who stepped down as U.S. secretary of state close to four decades ago.

These are just a few examples of how Henry Kissinger’s diplomatic engagements have left an indelible mark on global politics.