Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger was a public servant that was an important part of the United States political arena during the 20th Century. Political science research papers on Henry Kissinger focus on his role in politics and his accomplishments as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. Get help from Paper Masters when writing your research paper on Kissinger.

American diplomat Henry Kissinger (b. 1923) served as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon. Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Kissinger is largely credited with:

• Helping to end the Vietnam War
• Opening China to normal relations with the West
• Achieving detente with the Soviet Union

Henry Kissinger - The Early Years

Kissinger was born in Bavaria. His family fled the Nazis in 1938, first traveling to England, and then settling in the United States. In 1943, Kissinger was drafted in the U.S. Army. His native German language abilities saw Kissinger assigned to military intelligence operations, even though he was only a private. Following the war, Kissinger attended Harvard University, obtaining his Ph.D. in 1954. As a proponent of Realpolitik, Kissinger became active in Republican circles during the 1960s, first as an advisor to New York governor Nelson Rockefeller, and then as National Security Advisor to President Nixon in 1969.

Henry Kissinger and the Vietnam War

Dr. Kissinger was instrumental in the end game portion of the Vietnam War, serving as the U.S.'s point man during the peace talks that led to America's withdrawal from Vietnam. For these efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973. He also pioneered detente with the Soviet Union, leading the way towards several nuclear arms reduction treaties. His secret negotiations with the Chinese government led to President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972.