Full Name: Henry Alfred Kissinger, born Heinz Alfred Kissinger
Profession: US Secretary of State and Political Scientist
Biography: Born into a German Jewish family, Henry Kissinger fled Germany with his family in 1938 for the US.
Kissinger served as a National Security Advisor from 1969, then as US Secretary of State (1973-77) under both presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. During this period Kissinger played a major role in directing US foreign policy, his pragmatic approach labelled 'realpolitik'. He practised a policy of détente with the Soviet Union and made the first official contact with Communist China.
Kissinger was controversially awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating a ceasefire during the Vietnam War.
Kissinger is the founder and chairman of geopolitical consulting firm Kissinger Associates. He is also the author of a number of influential works on foreign policy, published both during and after his time in office.
Born: May 27, 1923
Birthplace: Fürth, Bavaria, Germany
Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Gemini
Died: November 29, 2023 (aged 100)
Articles and Photos
America’s Agony Is Over: Vietnam War Ends
A ceasefire agreement was signed on this day, heralding the end of the vicious and bitter Vietnam War – America’s attempt to halt the spread of communism.
January 23, 1973
Richard Nixon's Resignation Letter
The brief letter confirming Richard Nixon's resignation, per federal law it was addressed to Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger
August 9, 1974
Married Life
- 1949-02-06 American diplomat Henry Kissinger (25) weds Ann Fleisher (23) in Washington Heights, Manhattan, NYC
Historical Events
- 1961-02-28 US President John F Kennedy names Henry Kissinger special advisor
- 1968-12-02 US President Richard Nixon names Henry Kissinger security advisor
- 1971-01-12 US Federal grand jury indicts Rev Philip Berrigan & 5 others, including a nun & 2 priests, on charges of plotting to kidnap Henry Kissinger
- 1971-07-09 Henry Kissinger visits the People's Republic of China to negotiate a detente between the US and China
- 1972-10-26 Henry Kissinger declares "Peace is at hand" in Vietnam
- 1973-02-17 US National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger meets Chinese leader Mao Zedong, where the latter jokingly offers to send 10 million Chinese women to the United States
- 1973-09-22 Henry Kissinger sworn in as America's 1st Jewish Secretary of State, succeeds William Rogers
- 1973-10-16 US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho controversially awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating a ceasefire in Vietnam that later failed
- 1974-02-11 US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger unveils Nixon Administration's seven-point "Project Independence" plan to make the U.S. energy independent
- 1975-01-13 US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger hints at military action against oil countries in case of "actual strangulation of the industrialized world" in the wake of oil shock
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