Henry Kissinger

Henry Alfred Kissinger (born May 27, 1923 as Heinz Alfred Kissinger) is a German-born American diplomat and statesman. He served as National Security Advisor and later Secretary of State in the Nixon administration, continuing in the latter position after Gerald Ford became President in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal.

Post Cabinet Years

Kissinger left office when former Georgia governor Jimmy Carter defeated Ford at the 1976 elections. He played a relatively minor role in the Reagan (1981-89) and first Bush (1989-93) administrations, mainly because the neo-conservative groups which dominated the Republican Party by 1981 considered Kissinger's detente policy to have been a form of appeasement of the Soviet Union. He continued to participate in policy groups such as the Trilateral Commission and to do political consulting, speaking, and writing.

Related Topics:
Georgia - Jimmy Carter - 1976 - Reagan - 1981 - 89 - Bush - 93 - Neo-conservative - Appeasement - Trilateral Commission

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In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Kissinger to chair a committee to investigate the events of the September 11 attacks. His appointment led to widespread criticism, generally taken from the position that Kissinger has never been supportive of the public's right to know, but also because some vocal groups have alleged that some of his actions undertaken in the Nixon and Ford administrations were war crimes (see "Accusations Against Henry Kissinger," below).

Related Topics:
2002 - President - George W. Bush - September 11 attacks - War crimes

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In response, Congressional Democrats insisted that Kissinger file financial disclosures to reveal any conflicts of interest. Both Bush and Kissinger claimed that Kissinger did not need to file such forms, since he would not be receiving a salary. When Congressional Democrats insisted, however, Kissinger resigned from the commission. On December 13, 2002, he stepped down as chairman, citing conflict of interest with his clients.

Related Topics:
Congressional - Democrats - December 13 - 2002

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In 2005, Kissinger offered a public apology for using harsh language in 1971 to describe Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, and Indians in general. The transcripts showed that in supporting U.S. policy toward the Pakistani government and its conflict in then-East Pakistan he was not concerned with the actions of Pakistan's military there.

Related Topics:
Indira Gandhi - Prime Minister of India - Pakistan - East Pakistan

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