He conducted the first “shuttle diplomacy” in the quest for Middle East peace. He had to think twice before traveling to certain countries to be sure that he would not be summoned by judges seeking to question him about Nixon-era actions.įor eight restless years - first as national security adviser, later as secretary of state, and for a time in the middle holding both titles - Kissinger ranged across the breadth of major foreign policy issues. Never without his detractors, Kissinger after he left government was dogged by critics who argued that he should be called to account for his policies on Southeast Asia and support of repressive regimes in Latin America.

“At the end,” he said, “for an American president to challenge the constitutional system and to try to overthrow the constitutional system is a grave matter.

But he lost enthusiasm as Trump became “so centrally focused on one person” - himself - and turned issues into confrontations. Initially, he told “PBS NewsHour” last year, he had some sympathy with Trump’s views about America’s national interests.

He turned up in Donald Trump’s White House on multiple occasions.

Eisenhower 1972 silver dollar