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Henry Kissinger

American diplomat and geopolitical advisor, served as U.S. Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 (1923-2023) · United States · Politicians · Died at 100

Henry Kissinger is read about 6,507 times a day, in 107 languages.

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American secretary of state who opened relations with China, negotiated détente with the Soviet Union, and won a Nobel Peace Prize - while standing accused of war crimes for the bombing of Cambodia and enabling coups, genocide, and authoritarian regimes across three continents.

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A life in dates

2023Died29 November 20232012Global Citizen AwardsAward2009Ewald von Kleist PrizeAward2006Great Immigrants AwardAward2005Honorary Doctor of the Peking UniversityAward2000Chancellor of the College of William & MaryOffice2000-20051995Knight Commander of the Order of the British EmpireAward1992Eric M. Warburg AwardAward1986Medal of LibertyAward1981Francis Boyer AwardAward1977Presidential Medal of FreedomAward1976Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicAward1973Nobel Peace PrizeAwardUnited States Secretary of StateOffice1973-19771972Time Person of the YearAward1970“I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people.”In their words27 June 1970Meeting of the "40 Committee" on covert action in Chile (June 27, 1970) quoted in The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence (1974); the

1969“There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.”In their words1 June 1969As quoted in The New York Times Magazine (June 1, 1969)

“We fought a military war; our opponents fought a political one. We sought physical attrition; our opponents aimed for our psychological exhaustion.”In their wordsJanuary 1969"The Vietnam Negotiations", Foreign Affairs, Vol. 48, No. 2 (January 1969), p. 214; also quoted as "A conventional army loses if it does

United States National Security AdvisorOffice1969-19751965Guggenheim FellowshipAward1961“I...was a little puzzled by your suggestion that we should return to a diplomacy like Bismarck's.”In their words31 July 1961LOC, G-13, HAK to Michael Howard (July 31, 1961).

1945Bronze Star MedalAward1923Born27 May 1923

Also in Deutsch

Photos 12

Portrait of Kissinger as a Harvard senior in 1950Portrait of Kissinger as a Harvard senior in 1950Kissinger being sworn in as Secretary of State by Chief Justice Warren Burger, September 22, 1973. Kissinger's mother, Paula, holds the Bible as President Nixon looks on.Kissinger being sworn in as Secretary of State by Chief Justice Warren Burger, September 22, 1973. Kissinger's mother, Paula, holds the Bible as President Nixon looks on.Kissinger, shown here with Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong, negotiated rapprochement with China.Kissinger, shown here with Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong, negotiated rapprochement with China.Kissinger and President Richard Nixon discussing the Vietnam situation in Camp David, 1972 (with Alexander Haig)Kissinger and President Richard Nixon discussing the Vietnam situation in Camp David, 1972 (with Alexander Haig)President Ford, General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, and Kissinger speaking informally at the Vladivostok Summit in 1974President Ford, General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, and Kissinger speaking informally at the Vladivostok Summit in 1974Kissinger in the West Wing as National Security Adviser in April 1975Kissinger in the West Wing as National Security Adviser in April 1975Kissinger sits in the Oval Office with President Nixon and Israeli prime minister Golda Meir, 1973.Kissinger sits in the Oval Office with President Nixon and Israeli prime minister Golda Meir, 1973.

In their own words 10

,
Henry Kissinger
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people.

    Jun 27, 1970, Meeting of the "40 Committee" on covert action in Chile (June 27, 1970) quoted in The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence (1974); the, Own words

  2. There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.

    Jun 1, 1969, As quoted in The New York Times Magazine (June 1, 1969), Own words

  3. We fought a military war; our opponents fought a political one. We sought physical attrition; our opponents aimed for our psychological exhaustion.

    Jan 1969, "The Vietnam Negotiations", Foreign Affairs, Vol. 48, No. 2 (January 1969), p. 214; also quoted as "A conventional army loses if it does, Own words

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Awards

Global Citizen Awards2012
Ewald von Kleist Prize2009
Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg2007
Great Immigrants Award2006
Honorary Doctor of the Peking University2005
Franz Josef Strauss Award1996
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire1995
Eric M. Warburg Award1992
Charlemagne Prize1987
Medal of Liberty1986
Francis Boyer Award1981
National Book Award1980
Presidential Medal of Freedom1977
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic1976
Wateler Peace Prize1975
Nobel Peace Prize1973
Time Person of the Year1972
Financial Times Person of the Year1972
Guggenheim Fellowship1965
Bronze Star Medal1945
Bavarian Order of Merit
Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, 1st class
Golden Plate Award
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Honorary Doctor of Waseda University
Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art
Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class
Presidential Medal of Distinction
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Knights of Rizal

Family

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Henry Kissinger

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About this person

Born in Germany in 1923, Kissinger fled Nazi persecution as a Jewish refugee in 1938, fought in the U.S. Army during World War II, then rose through Harvard to become a foreign policy expert and government consultant before Nixon appointed him national security advisor in 1969 and secretary of state in 1973. His Realpolitik reshaped the Cold War: he pioneered détente with Moscow, orchestrated the opening to China, ended the Yom Kippur War through shuttle diplomacy, and negotiated the Paris Peace Accords that closed American involvement in Vietnam. The Nobel committee gave him the 1973 Peace Prize; critics pointed to the civilian dead from Cambodia's bombing, the coups in Bolivia and Chile, support for the Dirty War in Argentina, Indonesia's invasion of East Timor, and Pakistan during the Bangladesh genocide. After leaving office he founded Kissinger Associates, wrote over a dozen books, and advised presidents of both parties until his death in 2023.

Country
United States
Category
Politicians
Type
Public Official
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1923 to 2023 · aged 100

In common with Henry

Rory KennedyAlso in Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011)Akie KotabeAlso in Another Day of Life (2018)Tomasz ZiętekAlso in Another Day of Life (2018)Liz GarbusAlso in Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011)Youssef KerkourAlso in Another Day of Life (2018)George H. W. BushBoth received Eric M. Warburg Award

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