Legendary Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger Passes Away at 100
November 30, 2023
Henry Kissinger, a notable foreign policy adviser to four presidents and a key figure in the Nixon White House, died Wednesday at his Connecticut home at the age of 100. Kissinger was famous for negotiating an end to the Vietnam War, détente with the Soviet Union, and establishing relations with China. Born in Germany and arriving in New York City as a teenager fleeing anti-Semitism, Kissinger went on to become a prominent U.S. diplomat.
He played a critical role in the Nixon White House and was present during the Watergate scandal’s collapse. Kissinger was deeply involved in the tumultuous events and was seen praying with the president during the final days of the Nixon administration. Despite this, Kissinger also made many significant achievements, like his role in the normalization of U.S.-China relations.
However, Kissinger was also a controversial figure, receiving both praise and criticism for his actions. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, but was also condemned as a war criminal. Kissinger was married to Nancy Maginnes and had children from a previous marriage.
Born in Fuerth, Germany, in 1923, Kissinger fled the Nazis with his parents, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen and joining the Army during World War II. He later became a faculty member at Harvard before entering politics and serving as National Security adviser to Nixon.
After resigning from Nixon’s administration, Kissinger remained active in international affairs and continued to contribute to discussions on foreign policy and global terrorism. He led an international consulting firm and chaired the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America under President Reagan. Kissinger also wrote extensively on foreign affairs and diplomatic history.
He also became a fixture of New York City, frequently seen at high-profile events and is remembered fondly by many members of the community. Kissinger’s interment will be private, with a memorial service in New York to be held at a later date.