Henry Kissinger and his political life

Mr. Henry Kissinger at a conference in Beijing (China) in 2015

Security advisor - powerful foreign minister

Henry Kissinger, whose full name is Heinz Alfred Kissinger, was born on May 27, 1923, in the city of Furth in Bavaria (Germany). As a Jew, he endured discrimination in German society at that time, according to Reuters. In 1938, his family left Germany under the Nazi regime for New York (USA), where he changed his name to Henry. In 1943, he became a US citizen.

During World War II, Mr. Kissinger returned home to fight in the U.S. Army's 84th Infantry Division. He served as an interpreter on intelligence missions, helped round up members of the Nazi Gestapo, and was awarded a Bronze Star.

From left: Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, President Richard Nixon, Vice President-elect Gerald Ford, White House Chief of Staff Alexander Haig Jr. at the White House on October 13, 1973

After the war, Mr. Kissinger studied political science at Harvard University and then participated in policy research and advised many government agencies. In 1957, his first book, Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy, quickly became a bestseller after being published.

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger passes away

In 1969, he became President Richard Nixon's National Security Advisor and served until Nixon resigned and was replaced by Gerald Ford. Mr. Kissinger also served as US Secretary of State under both leaders.

Mr Kissinger's power grew during the Watergate scandal and there were comparisons that the diplomat took on the role of "co-president" with Mr Nixon, whose position was then weakened, according to AP.

Mr. Henry Kissinger (left cover), Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller (center) and President Gerald Ford at the White House on April 28, 1975

“My pride was clearly aroused, but the prevailing feeling was one of disaster,” Mr. Kissinger wrote of his influence at the time.

After 1977, Mr. Kissinger no longer served in any presidential administration, although he maintained a relationship with President George W. Bush. Mr. Bush then appointed Mr. Kissinger as Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, in charge of investigating the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

However, Mr. Kissinger resigned shortly afterward because he did not want to reveal the identities of his consulting firm's clients. Mr. Kissinger also appeared at the White House many times under President Donald Trump.

Mr. Henry Kissinger and President Donald Trump at the White House on October 10, 2017

Pragmatic diplomat

During his eight years in government, Mr. Kissinger influenced many major foreign policy issues related to US-China relations, the Vietnam War, Middle East peace , détente with the Soviet Union... His legacy is controversial.

He is a political pragmatist, using diplomacy to achieve practical goals rather than to promote lofty ideals. Supporters say his pragmatism serves American interests, while critics see it as a Machiavellian approach that runs counter to democratic ideals, according to AP.

Mr. Henry Kissinger shakes hands with Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party Mao Zedong in Beijing on December 2, 1975

At 99, Kissinger continues to make the rounds to promote his books on leadership. Asked in a July 2022 interview with ABC if he would reverse any decisions in his life, the diplomat said: "I've thought about these issues all my life. It's my hobby and my profession. And the suggestions I made were the best I could have done at the time."

Mr. Henry Kissinger turns 100 in May 2023. He has two children, Elizabeth and David, from his first wife.

After Mr. Kissinger's death, a number of politicians and international leaders spoke out.

Former US President George W. Bush said the US had lost one of its "most distinctive and trusted voices on foreign affairs with the passing of Henry Kissinger," according to AFP. Also today, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping had sent a message of condolences to US President Joe Biden on the passing of Kissinger, according to Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed condolences on the passing of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Mr. Kissinger shaped US foreign policy as well as a number of other policies. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron wrote on social network X that he was saddened to learn of the death of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, according to Reuters.

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