 |
Henry KissingerAmerican diplomat and political scientist, Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Date of Birth: 27.05.1923
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger, an American diplomat and political scientist, is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Although he left the government in 1976, his opinions are still highly regarded by American authorities. Kissinger has established himself as an outstanding political scientist and one of the best specialists in international politics in the country.
Early Life and Education
Born as Heinz Alfred Kissinger in Fürth, Bavaria, Germany, Kissinger came from a German Jewish family. In 1938, the Nazi regime forced his family to flee to the United States, and they settled in New York. While Kissinger quickly adapted to American culture, he never lost his accent. This was partly due to his childhood shyness and dislike for public speaking.
After graduating from high school, Kissinger enrolled in City College of New York, where he studied accounting. Despite working alongside his studies, he excelled academically. In 1943, his studies were interrupted by his military service. On June 19, 1943, Kissinger became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Initially, the military planned to allow him to continue his education. However, he was later transferred to the infantry, where another German immigrant, Fritz Kraemer, quickly recognized Kissinger's talents and utilized them in intelligence work. Kissinger had the opportunity to experience actual combat and engage in dangerous reconnaissance operations. Over time, he became a significant figure in intelligence, using his resources wisely and avoiding abuse of the power entrusted to him by his superiors.
Kissinger earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with distinction from Harvard in 1950. He also obtained his Master's degree and his doctorate from Harvard in 1952 and 1954, respectively.
Political Career
Kissinger always aspired to have a significant influence on the country's foreign policy. He began his ascent up the political ladder by initially supporting and later advising Nelson Rockefeller, the governor of New York, who attempted to become the Republican Party's presidential nominee in 1960, 1964, and 1968. In 1968, Richard Nixon became the president, and Kissinger became his advisor on national security matters.
One of Kissinger's major achievements was the efforts to reduce political tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Notable among these efforts were the negotiations on strategic arms limitation and the treaty on the limitation of anti-ballistic missile systems. In an attempt to exert diplomatic pressure on the Soviet Union, Kissinger also initiated negotiations with China, achieving some success in creating a Sino-American anti-Soviet alliance.
After Jimmy Carter's victory in the presidential elections, Kissinger left his position. Although he was offered a job at Columbia University, student protests convinced the university administration to abandon the idea. Eventually, Kissinger found a place at the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Georgetown University. Nevertheless, he continued to be highly respected in the government as a diplomat and specialist in international relations.
In November 2002, George W. Bush appointed Kissinger to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. However, on December 13, 2002, Kissinger resigned as chairman of the commission due to a conflict of interest. In the following years, Kissinger criticized the actions of the United States in Yugoslavia, advised the government on the Iraq War, and more recently, commented on the situation in Ukraine.
