According to the New York Times, presidential advisor extraordinaire Henry Kissinger died in Connecticut. On Wednesday, November 29, the newspaper claimed that he died at home. Kissinger Associates issued a message to several media sites.
“Henry Kissinger, a respected American scholar and statesman, died today at his home in Connecticut,” according to a brief statement.
Here’s what you need to know about the great statesman who died at the age of 100 following a long political career.
He advised 12 U.S. Presidents
Kissinger is known for advising an impressive 12 U.S. presidents between John F. Kenndy and President Joe Biden, according to the New York Times.
He was born in Germany
Henry was born Heinz Alfred Kissinger in 1923 in Furth, Germany, the country’s Bavarian region. He became a naturalized citizen in the United States in New York in 1943, after his family fled Nazi Germany in 1938. According to Reuters, he was bullied by anti-Semites before leaving his home country.
He returned to Germany during World War II, along with the 84th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. He obtained a prestigious Bronze Star for his work as an intelligence translator, helping round up Gestapo members, and more.
He was secretary of state to 2 U.S. Presidents
The legendary diplomat was also secretary of state to President Richard M. Nixon — and simultaneously held the position of national security adviser. When Nixon infamously resigned over the Watergate scandal in 1974, he continued to serve as secretary of state under Nixon’s successor, President Gerald R. Ford.
Henry had a celebrity cachet
Henry was seen about town with a number of glamorous celebrities during his bachelor years, including Murphy Brown star Candice Bergen, That Girl star Marlo Thomas, and Bond girl Jill St. John.
He was married to Ann Fleischer from 1949-1964. After his divorce from Ann, he ultimately married Nancy Maginnes in 1974. He had two children, Elizabeth and David, with his first wife, Ann.
He’s a Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Henry famously collected a 1973 Nobel Peace Prize, alongside North Vietnam’s Le Duc Tho — but with the honor would come controversy.
Two Nobel committee members would end up resigning over the decision to hand the award to the duo, who received it for their Paris peace talks. Many felt that their work had not yet brought peace, and therefore shouldn’t have received the monumental honor.
Musician Tom Lehrer once said of the controversy, “Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.”
