Kissinger was a Nobel Peace Prize winner and polarizing figure who influenced global affairs under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
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The diplomat and scholar died at his home in Connecticut on Wednesday, according to his consulting firm.
Kissinger served as Secretary of State from September 23, 1973, to January 20, 1977.
At the time of his appointment, Kissinger was also serving as National Security Adviser, becoming the first and only person to hold both positions simultaneously.
EARLY LIFE
Kissinger was born in Germany in 1923 and he and his family fled Nazi rule in 1938.
He became an American citizen in 1943, the same year he began a three-year stint in the Army, though he remained in the Army Reserves until 1959.
Kissinger went on to receive his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Harvard University and he taught international relations at the prestigious university for nearly 20 years.
In 1969, President Nixon appointed Kissinger to the National Security Advisor role.
During his time as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, Kissinger helped negotiate the opening of barriers with China, the end of the Yom Kippur War in the Middle East, and the end of America’s role in the Vietnam War, among other important achievements.
Kissinger was regarded as one of the leaders on national security matters.
He authored 21 books on the topic and was regularly consulted by presidents on both sides of the aisle, as well as other foreign leaders, long after he concluded his time in government service.
Later in life, in addition to liaising with political leaders, Kissinger led a global consulting firm called Kissinger Associates.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 and was given a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 by Ford, who declared that Kissinger “wielded America’s great power with wisdom and compassion in the service of peace.”
Kissinger celebrated his 100th birthday in May.
He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Nancy Maginnes Kissinger, two children from his first marriage, and five grandchildren.
ACTIVE INTO OLD AGE
At age 100, Kissinger outlived many of his peers – a feat his son, David, reflected on earlier this year.
“Not only has he outlived most of his peers, eminent detractors, and students, but he has also remained indefatigably active throughout his 90s,” David wrote in the Washington Post in May.
“My father’s longevity is especially miraculous when one considers the health regimen he has followed throughout his adult life, which includes a diet heavy on bratwurst and Wiener schnitzel, a career of relentlessly stressful decision-making, and a love of sports purely as a spectator, never a participant.”
In staying politically active later in life, Kissinger traveled to China in July to meet with leader Xi Jinping.
Kissinger first traveled to China 52 years earlier, when he played a crucial role in bridging the diplomatic gap between Washington DC and Beijing.
Xi wished Kissinger a “long and healthy life” during their meeting.
“The Chinese people never forget their old friends and Sino-US relations will always be linked with the name of Henry Kissinger,” he said.
INFLUENTIAL AND CONTROVERSIAL
Throughout his lengthy career, Kissinger also incited controversy.
He frequently caught media attention for dating celebrities and socializing with Hollywood’s elite.
During the Nixon administration, Kissinger was known as a ladies man and called women “a diversion, a hobby,” according to The Associated Press.
When it came to foreign policy, Kissinger was a believer in realpolitik, or using diplomacy to achieve practical goals.
Many hold Kissinger responsible for the huge number of deaths tied to the Vietnam War and the United States’ bombing of Cambodia.
He was asked in a CBS interview before his 100th birthday for his thoughts on those who saw his conduct of foreign policy as a kind of “criminality.”
Kissinger dismissed the notion, saying: “That’s a reflection of their ignorance.
“It wasn’t conceived that way. It wasn’t conducted that way.”
Many have taken to social media to offer their condolences as news of Kissinger’s death spread.
President George W. Bush wrote: “America has lost one of the most dependable and distinctive voices on foreign affairs with the passing of Henry Kissinger.
“I have long admired the man who fled the Nazis as a young boy from a Jewish family, then fought them in the United States Army.
“When he later became Secretary of State, his appointment as a former refugee said as much about his greatness as it did America’s greatness. He worked in the Administrations of two Presidents and counseled many more.
“I am grateful for that service and advice, but I am most grateful for his friendship. Laura and I will miss his wisdom, his charm, and his humor. And we will always be thankful for the contributions of Henry Kissinger.”
Varying opinions were also shared by the public on X, formerly Twitter, with one person writing: “Influential or controversial, Kissinger leaves lasting impact.”
“End of an era,” another wrote.
“Controversial or not, Kissinger’s mark is indelible,” wrote someone else.
“Rest in peace to Henry Kissinger, a man whose decades of public service left an enduring legacy. We’ll never forget the contributions he made to the world,” someone else chimed in.
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