Henry Kissinger, a prominent and often polarizing figure in US foreign and security policy, has passed away at the age of 100. His consulting firm, Kissinger Associates, confirmed his death, stating that he died at his Connecticut home. A private family service will be held to inter him, though no cause of death was provided.
Kissinger’s life journey began when his family fled Nazi Germany in 1938, and he went on to serve in the US Army for three years. He earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University, setting the stage for his influential career in politics.
His tenure as President Richard Nixon’s security advisor and subsequent service as Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 under both Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford placed him at the center of pivotal historical moments, including the Vietnam War and the Cold War, extending to the post-9/11 era.
Kissinger’s legacy is a subject of divided opinion. He is hailed by some on the right as a brilliant diplomat and political powerhouse who played a crucial role in negotiating the end of the Yom Kippur War and the Paris Peace Accords that eventually concluded the Vietnam War.
However, on the left, he is heavily criticized for policies that have been linked to the deaths of millions worldwide. These criticisms include his involvement in the overthrow of Chilean President Salvador Allende, support for Pakistani dictator Yahya Khan leading to widespread atrocities, and diplomatic actions fueling the civil war in South Africa, among others. His orchestration of a four-year bombing campaign in Cambodia is also a point of contention.
Kissinger’s controversial receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 alongside North Vietnamese diplomat Le Duc Tho, who declined the award, led to the resignation of two Nobel Committee members in protest.
Despite controversies, Kissinger remained an influential figure through his consulting firm and served on various governmental advisory boards. He was appointed as the chairman of the 9/11 commission by President George W. Bush but stepped down amid questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Henry Kissinger is survived by his wife Nancy Kissinger, along with his two children, Elizabeth and David, from his first marriage to Ann Fleischer.