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Renowned statesman and diplomat Henry Kissinger has passed away at the age of 100. A significant figure in US foreign policy, Kissinger also received a Nobel Peace Prize, which stirred controversy. His death at his Connecticut home was announced by his geopolitical consulting firm, Kissinger Associates Inc. The statement made no reference to the circumstances of his death and noted that he would be laid to rest in a private family service. A public memorial service will take place in New York City at a later date.
Kissinger continued to be active beyond his 100th birthday, participating in meetings in the White House, being the author of a book on leadership styles, and testifying before a Senate committee about the nuclear threat from North Korea. Most notably, in July 2023, he traveled to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Kissinger’s influential impact on U.S. foreign policy during the 1970s was highlighted by his roles as national security adviser and secretary of state under President Richard Nixon. His efforts contributed to the US improving relations with China, historic U.S.-Soviet arms control negotiations, expanded ties between Israel and its Arab neighbors, and the Paris Peace Accords with North Vietnam.
Despite the recognition Kissinger received for his diplomatic expertise, he faced criticism for his ties to anti-communist dictatorships, particularly in Latin America. His influence waned after the Watergate scandal in Nixon’s administration. Kissinger’s reach extended into the realm of business where he established a consulting firm in New York and continued to be an influential commentator in the media on international affairs.
Kissinger, born in 1923 in Germany as Heinz Alfred Kissinger, moved to the US in 1938 before the Holocaust. He became a naturalized US citizen in 1943, serving in the Army in World War II. He then attended Harvard University, where he ultimately joined the faculty.
