Former U.S. Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Henry Kissinger has died at his home in Kent, Connecticut, at age 100. His death was announced by his consulting firm, Kissinger Associates. The cause of death was not revealed.
In May of 2023, Kissinger celebrated his 100th birthday. He had remained active in spite of his age and most recently focused his attention on the implications of artificial intelligence. He was a frequent guest with media and on panel discussions, writing, and traveled abroad.
While serving in the Nixon Administration, Kissinger was instrumental in secret negotiations with the North Vietnamese to end the Vietnam War. It also was alleged that while Nixon was running for office he reached out to the North Vietnamese and offered them the prospect of better peace terms if they did not end the war while President Lyndon Johnson was still in the White House.
Kissinger was born in Germany in 1923, where his father was a teacher. His family fled Nazi Germany and came to America in 1938. After he became an American citizen in 1943, Kissinger served in the 84th Army Division from 1943 to 1946. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his “meritorious service.” Dr. Kissinger subsequently served in the Counter Intelligence Corps in occupied Germany. He was in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1959.
Kissinger earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees at Harvard, where he taught international relations for almost 20 years. In 1969, Nixon appointed him National Security Advisor. He subsequently served as Secretary of State under Presidents Nixon and Ford. As Secretary of State, Kissinger played central roles opening relations with China and negotiating the end of the Yom Kippur War in the Middle East. He negotiated key arms control agreements with the Soviet Union.
Kissinger has written 21 books on national security matters. He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Nancy Maginnes Kissinger, two children by his first marriage, David and Elizabeth, and five grandchildren. He will be interred at a private family service. At a later date, there will be a memorial service in New York City.
