Henry Kissinger served as national security advisor and secretary of state for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford during a turbulent time in American history. Gleaves Whitney, Executive Director of the Ford Presidential Foundation, says Kissinger brought valuable experience, negotiating arms with the Soviet Union and opening relationships with China.
“Kissinger had the historic depth, the diplomatic skills to deal with some of the most dangerous enemies on the planet, and he did so masterfully, and the Ford administration appreciated him and considered him indispensable.”
Whitney says the men had very different personalities, but worked well together.
“He and Kissinger had differences of opinion but Ford needed Kissinger, and Kissinger needed Ford. They dovetailed, and they needed each other’s judgment and different temperaments to get the job done.”
Detractors say Kissinger should be held accountable for his actions during the Nixon administration, including bombings in Cambodia and support of repressive regimes in Latin America. He died at the age of 100.