Henry Kissinger (before his death)

Henry Alfred Kissinger was born in Fürth, Germany in 1923 and emigrated to the United States in 1938. He earned a PhD in government from Harvard University and became a prominent international relations scholar before entering government service.

Kissinger served as National Security Advisor (1969–1975) and Secretary of State (1973–1977) under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He was instrumental in opening diplomatic relations with China, negotiating the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union, and pursuing a policy of détente during the Cold War. His realpolitik approach prioritized strategic national interests over ideological considerations.

His tenure was marked by significant geopolitical achievements but also controversial decisions, including his role in the bombing of Cambodia and support for Pakistan during the 1971 Bangladesh War. After leaving office, Kissinger remained influential as a foreign policy commentator, author, and consultant through his firm Kissinger Associates. He died on November 29, 2023, at age 100.

German-born American diplomat and scholar who became one of the most influential foreign policy architects of the 20th century. As National Security Advisor and Secretary of State under Nixon and Ford, Kissinger pioneered détente with the Soviet Union and opened relations with China, fundamentally reshaping Cold War geopolitics through realpolitik strategy.