Henry Kissinger was born May 27, 1923 in Furth, Germany. As a Jew, he was subject to persecution after Hitler came to power in 1933. Kissinger and his family fled to the United States five years later.
Kissinger's family lived in upper Manhattan in a German Jewish neighborhood. After graduating from George Washington High School, he enrolled at City College of New York, studying accounting. In 1943, Kissinger was drafted into the US Army, which was fighting a war against his native country.
Kissinger was assigned to the 84th Infantry Division. Because of his fluency in German, he was placed in its military intelligence section. Kissinger saw combat during the Battle of the Bulge.
As the Americans advanced into Germany, Kissinger was given administrative responsibilities in some German cities. He led the drive to track down Gestapo officers and saboteurs.
After the War, Kissinger matriculated at Harvard University, where he earned a BA degree in Political Science in 1950. Kissinger subsequently received MA and PhD degrees from Harvard. After graduating, he joined the Harvard faculty.
In 1956, Kissinger began working for the Rockefeller Brothers Fund as director of its Special Studies Project. More and more interested in influencing American foreign policy, he became an advisor to New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller who, in 1960, 1964 and 1968, was a candidate for the Republican nomination for president of the United States.
Kissinger initially called former Vice President Richard Nixon, who won the nomination in 1960 and 1968, "the most dangerous of all the men running to have as president." He subsequently changed his mind and was willing to help Nixon win the election.
In January 1969, President Nixon appointed Kissinger as his National Security Advisor. On August 21, 1973 (49 years ago), Nixon named him as his Secretary of State. Kissinger stayed in that post under President Gerald Ford (and Vice President Nelson Rockefeller) until January 1977.
In July 1971, Kissinger made a secret trip to the People's Republic of China, which led to the opening of diplomatic relations between the USA and China. His trip paved the way for the 1972 summit meeting between Nixon and Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong.
Kissinger and my path crossed one day many years after his government service when we were both at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. I saw him entering a gate for a flight to San Jose, CA. I have no idea where I was going.
Next May, Kissinger will (hopefully) celebrate his 100th birthday.
I wonder how in the world, why in the world, Kissinger went from saying that Nixon was the MOST DANGEROUS, to being his ally. You seemed to have skid right past that. For me it was a jaw-dropper.
ReplyDelete