• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy Henry Kissinger’s friends, former colleagues reflect on his legacy: ‘A titanic figure’
Economy

Henry Kissinger’s friends, former colleagues reflect on his legacy: ‘A titanic figure’

by December 1, 2023
by December 1, 2023 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

The late Henry Kissinger, an esteemed German-born diplomat and statesman known for his role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War era, is described by former colleagues and friends as ‘a really brilliant negotiator.’

Kissinger died at the age of 100 on Wednesday. His legacy included vilification as well as a Nobel Peace Prize.

‘And every negotiation, he understood that everybody has to learn something. You can’t have one side just completely eviscerate the other side,’ KT McFarland, former President Trump’s deputy national security adviser, told Fox News Digital in an interview Thursday.

McFarland worked under Kissinger – her first boss – in the Nixon administration. He later became a mentor figure to her, she said. 

‘When Trump was elected, Henry returned the favor and suggested to President-elect Trump to hire me as his deputy national security adviser,’ McFarland said. ‘So, my time with Henry goes from the full circle, from the White House Situation Room to the White House Situation Room in 45 years.’

As for the controversy surrounding his legacy, such as ‘secretly’ opening the door to China relations, Mcfarland said, ‘Put him into the context of the times.’

Robert Charles, who served as assistant secretary of state at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs from 2003 to 2005, called Kissinger ‘a titanic figure in every sense of that word.’

‘He was one of the largest political and diplomatic figures of the second half of the 20th century,’ Charles told Fox News Digital. ‘He could manipulate and properly understand the motivations and help to create peaceful environments, using the pieces that were on the board.’

But Kissinger’s controversial policy with China was a significant shift in U.S. foreign relations. He initiated secret negotiations with China while serving as national security adviser under Nixon, culminating in Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972. This laid the groundwork for the normalization of relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, effectively breaking the isolation that had existed between the two nations since 1949.

The decision to recognize the People’s Republic of China as a legitimate government of China was a departure from the United States’ previous support for Taiwan. This move was criticized for abandoning a longtime ally in favor of establishing relations with a communist regime.

‘The thinking at the time was if you could open China economically to free markets or began to integrate them into the global market, that economic freedom would lead to political freedom,’ Charles said. ‘He was in many ways wrong about that, as was Nixon.’

Charles described Kissinger as ‘a great tactician.’ He recalled seeing Kissinger ‘saunter down the hall with his thumbs in his belt loops’ while working occasionally in the George H.W. Bush White House.

Kissinger had ‘an incredibly deep reservoir of knowledge,’ Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state from 2018 to 2021 and director of the CIA from 2017 to 2018, told Fox News Digital. The two conversed on occasion, and every time, Pompeo said, he would walk away having learned something new. 

‘He was just enormously helpful to me during my four years in service, and I think there are many other American leaders of both political parties who turned to him for important data, history, wisdom and guidance,’ he said.

But ‘he did not view [China] as the malevolent actor that I do,’ Pompeo said. ‘And it’s just a difference in judgment, so I don’t critique what he did in 1972. I think it made sense then, that set of policies and effort to get China to become more like us through engagement might even have made sense in 1982.’

He added, ‘But by 2022, it’s no longer a viable foreign policy process, at least in my view.’

Foreign policy strategist, former public official and author of the bestselling book, ‘The Hundred-Year Marathon: China’s Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower,’ Michael Pillsbury, told Fox News Digital that he worked under Kissinger during the Reagan campaign. 

‘And I was one of the few people who knew about the China opening, having worked for Kissinger. And in those days, all of the negative, all of the scary things about China was suppressed by Kissinger,’ said Pillsbury, who later served as assistant undersecretary of defense for policy planning during the Reagan administration.

‘The American policy toward China was based on a series of assumptions [that] turned out to be tragically inaccurate,’ he said.

Kissinger, born in Germany in 1923, became a towering figure in American politics and diplomacy and was praised by supporters as a brilliant strategist and condemned by critics as a master political manipulator.

He fled Nazi persecution with his family and settled in the United States in 1938. Educated at Harvard University, he went on to become an academic and a significant authority on international relations.

He served as national security adviser and secretary of state under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, playing a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War era. His policy of détente aimed to ease tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and engage China, altering the dynamics of international relations. He conducted the first ‘shuttle diplomacy’ in the quest for Middle East peace. 

Kissinger played a crucial role in the Vietnam War, actively engaging in negotiations with North Vietnam and overseeing the Paris Peace Accords that facilitated the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. His strategies and choices during this period sparked controversy, drawing criticism for prolonged conflict and civilian casualties.

In 1973, Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside North Vietnam’s Le Duc Tho for their efforts in negotiating the Vietnam ceasefire. However, Tho declined the prize, citing the absence of real peace.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Here Is How the FDA Made the RSV Wave More Dangerous
  • Shopify’s Stock Surged By 25% After Reporting Strong Revenue
  • Harris campaign ‘internal worries about cohesiveness’ surface: report
  • Trump’s second term foreign policy likely to focus on ‘strength’ and ‘deterrence’: expert
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
Trump campaign calls DeSantis ‘thirsty OnlyFans wannabe’ for debating Newsom: ‘Kiss of death’
next post
Outrage as UN-Palestinian exhibition uses murdered Israeli child’s image as a Palestinian civilian casualty

You may also like

FLASHBACK: RFK Jr. endorsed Hillary Clinton multiple times, praised her...

October 26, 2023

Pelosi silent on Trump ‘cold hard evidence’ collusion claim after...

May 22, 2023

How tensions in the Middle East could impact global shipping

December 23, 2023

Missouri ends rule limiting gender transition treatments for minors, some...

May 17, 2023

Spy balloon likely sent extensive intelligence to China, experts say

February 6, 2023

Former North Carolina legislator Tom Murry running for attorney general

February 11, 2023

Iran-backed Houthis launch more missiles into Red Sea after Greece...

June 5, 2024

Vivek Ramaswamy preps for upcoming Republican debate with shirtless tennis

August 22, 2023

Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro signs off on main budget; legislative legwork...

August 4, 2023

EXCLUSIVE: Trump says indictment is ‘election interference at the highest...

June 9, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • The V Reversal is Impressive, but is it Enough?

      May 9, 2025
    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout, pulls outlook

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025
    • UnitedHealthcare sued by shareholders over reaction to CEO’s killing

      May 8, 2025
    • The Unpredictable Stock Market: How to Make Sense of It

      May 8, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,633 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,339 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,321 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,303 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,186 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,531)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • The V Reversal is Impressive, but is it Enough?

      May 9, 2025
    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout,...

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,531)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    House Democrat blasts Ireland, Spain, Norway...

    May 22, 2024

    An Inflationary Thanksgiving, Revisited

    November 24, 2022

    Trump rebukes Marjorie Taylor Greene’s failed...

    May 9, 2024
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here