11-29-2023 9:10pm

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, "Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac" Dies at 100

Anita Johnson-Brown Editor

WASHINGTON-Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, a prominent figure in foreign policy, has sadly passed away at the age of 100, according to his consulting firm. Kissinger played a significant role in shaping US foreign policy during the Vietnam War and in fostering relations with China. Despite receiving both criticism and accolades, he left an indelible mark on global affairs. During the tumultuous era of Watergate, Kissinger effectively assumed a co-presidential role alongside Nixon. Throughout his tenure as national security adviser and later secretary of state, he tackled various critical issues including Middle East peace through shuttle diplomacy and establishing diplomatic ties between the US and China after years of isolation. His efforts also led to negotiations in Paris that paved the way for an honorable exit from the costly war in Vietnam, although it eventually fell to communist forces two years later.

He pursued a policy of détente with the Soviet Union which resulted in arms control agreements and raised the possibility that the tensions of the Cold War and its nuclear threat did not have to last forever. At the age of 99, he was still promoting his book on leadership during his tour. When asked in a July 2022 interview with ABC whether he regretted any of his decisions, Kissinger avoided answering the question directly and instead said, "I've been thinking about these problems all my life. It's my hobby as well as my occupation. And so the recommendations I made were the best of which I was then capable."

Kissinger is famous for his quote, "Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac." However, his conduct of diplomatic affairs during wartime made him a controversial figure among many Americans. Even decades later, in 2015, a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing was disrupted by protesters demanding his arrest for war crimes and calling out his actions in Southeast Asia, Chile, and beyond.

While known for his often-quoted phrase "Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac," Kissinger has faced controversy due to his wartime diplomatic actions. Protesters disrupted a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in 2015, demanding accountability for alleged war crimes committed in Southeast Asia, Chile, and other regions.

Born Heinz Alfred Kissinger in Fuerth, Germany on May 27, 1923, he later immigrated to Manhattan with his family to escape Nazi Germany's persecution. In America, he adopted the name Henry. Kissinger has two children from his first marriage: Elizabeth and David.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Animal Medical Center in New York or the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs.

By Anita Johnson-Brown