Henry Kissinger
Former US Secretary of State dies at the age of 100
Henry Kissinger was US Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 and was a sought-after advisor until his death.
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Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has died at the age of 100, his consulting firm announced.
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (1923-2023) is dead. The Nobel Prize winner, who was born in Germany, died on Wednesday (November 29) at his home in Connecticut at the age of 100. That divided his consulting firm Kissinger Associates. He will be buried at a private ceremony with his family. A memorial service is scheduled to take place later in New York.
“Most powerful foreign minister of the post-war period”
The Republican Kissinger was US Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977, and previously National Security Advisor to Presidents Richard Nixon (1913-1994) and Gerald Ford (1913-2006) from 1969 to 1975. He was the oldest living former U.S. Cabinet member and the last surviving member of President Richard Nixon’s Cabinet. The New York Times paid tribute to him as “the most powerful foreign minister of the post-war period” – who was celebrated but also controversial.
Kissinger had a significant influence on US foreign policy. His efforts led, among other things, to China’s diplomatic opening and arms control negotiations between the USA and the Soviet Union. For the Paris Armistice Agreement in the Vietnam War, Kissinger received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 together with the North Vietnamese chief negotiator Le Duc Tho (1911-1990). However, this decision by the Nobel Prize Committee is controversial. Tho refused the honor because the war continued despite the agreement. Kissinger himself later wanted to return the prize.
He was known for his political sharpness and self-assurance, which critics described as paranoia and egotism. While many praised Kissinger’s brilliance, others criticized him for his support of anti-communist dictatorships, particularly in Latin America.
Born in Fürth
Kissinger was born Heinz Alfred Kissinger in Fürth, Bavaria, in 1923. As a lifelong football fan, he was an honorary member of the football club in his hometown, SpVgg Fürth. In 1938, the Jewish-Orthodox family fled the Nazi regime to the USA. During World War II, Kissinger joined the U.S. Army as an interpreter and became a naturalized citizen. However, he retained a Franconian accent throughout his life. After the war, he attended Harvard University, where he earned both master’s and doctoral degrees and began a career as a professor and in politics.
He remained an integral part of politics even after leaving office, frequently writing opinion pieces, giving interviews and appearing in the 2010 documentary “Nuclear Tipping Point,” in which he discussed his stance against nuclear weapons.
Kissinger had two children with his first wife, Ann Fleischer, whom he divorced in 1964. He married his second wife, Nancy Maginnes (89), ten years later. He is survived by Maginnes, his two children and five grandchildren.