American diplomat and Nobel winner Henry Kissinger dies at 100
Henry A. Kissinger BERLIN, GERMANY - JANUARY 21: Former United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger attends the ceremony for the Henry A. Kissinger Prize on January 21, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. The annual prize is awarded by the American Academy in Berlin for "outstanding service" to transatlantic relations. The 2019 edition of the award was given to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images) (Adam Berry/Getty Images)
By Jessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger died on Wednesday at the age of 100, Kissinger Associates, Inc. said in a statement.
Kissinger died in his home in Connecticut, according to Reuters. A cause of death was not provided.
Kissinger worked with U.S. foreign policy through President Richard Nixon and President Gerald Ford’s administrations, according to the Washington Post.
Kissinger was born in Germany in 1923. His family fled Nazi Germany and came to the United States in 1938, according to Kissinger Associates, Inc. He became a U.S. citizen in 1943.
He served in the Counter Intelligence Corps in occupied Germany and was in the army reserves in the U.S. until 1959. He went on to earn his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees through Harvard University where he also taught international law for around 20 years.
President Nixon appointed him National Security Advisor in 1969 and went on to serve as Secretary of State under both Nixon and Ford.
He helped play a key role in the opening of China, helped to end the Yom Kippur War and also helped bring an end of the Vietnam War. Kissinger helped the former Rhodesia build a representative government and negotiated control agreements with the then-Soviet Union, according to the New York Times.
Kissinger advised 12 presidents, according to the Times, from John F. Kennedy to President Joe Biden.
Kissinger is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy Maginnes Kissinger, his two children from his first marriage and his five grandchildren.
A private family service will take place and a memorial service is expected at a later date in New York City. The family is asking donations to be made to: Animal Medical Center, Development Office, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065 or Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036.
More information about Kissinger and his writings can be found on his website.
Henry Kissinger through the years WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger speaks during a discussion at The Woodrow Wilson Center October 3, 2012 in Washington, DC. Kissinger joined a discussion on China's growing military power and the response by the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Henry Kissinger through the years WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 10: (AFP-OUT) Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger meets with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on May 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Molly Riley-Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
Henry Kissinger through the years WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 31: Former US Secretary of state Henry Kissinger honors the late US Senator John McCain inside the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, August 31, 2018 in Washington, DC. The late senator died August 25 at the age of 81 after a long battle with brain cancer. He will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Friday, a rare honor bestowed on only 31 people in the past 166 years. Sen. McCain will be buried at his final resting place at the U.S. Naval Academy on Sunday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Henry Kissinger through the years WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, on January 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. The full committee heard testimony on global Challenges and U.S. National Security Strategy. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Henry Kissinger through the years WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 05: Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger speaks during a National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) conference November 5, 2019 in Washington, DC. The commission held a conference on "Strength Through Innovation: The Future of A.I. and U.S. National Security." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Henry Kissinger through the years BEIJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 22: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China November 22, 2019. (Photo by Jason Lee-Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
Henry Kissinger through the years NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: Former United States Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, and Honorees David Miliband and Diane von Furstenberg attend the 2018 Rescue Dinner hosted by the IRC at New York Hilton Midtown on November 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for IRC) (Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for IRC)
Henry Kissinger through the years WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his wife Nancy arrive at the White House for a state dinner April 24, 2018 in Washington, DC . President Donald Trump is hosting French President Emmanuel Macron for the first state visit of his presidency. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) (Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)
Henry Kissinger through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Former United States Secretary of State and honorary NCAFP Co-Chairman Henry A. Kissinger speaks onstage at the National Committee On American Foreign Policy 2016 Gala Dinner on October 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images) (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Henry Kissinger through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Former US Diplomat Henry Kissinger leaves following a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street on October 25, 2016 in London, England. The former US Secretary of State is visiting the UK to help raise money for the care of and to keep open to the public Sir Edward Heath's country home. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Henry Kissinger through the years BERLIN, GERMANY - JANUARY 21: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU, L) arrives with former United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger for the ceremony for the Henry A. Kissinger Prize on January 21, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. The annual prize is awarded by the American Academy in Berlin for "outstanding service" to transatlantic relations. The 2019 edition of the award was given to Merkel. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images) (Adam Berry/Getty Images)