He was 100 years old. Kissinger’s hayday was during the Nixon and Ford administrations. RIP.
Henry Kissinger passed away
- Thread starter Snagglefoot
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God speed Mr. Kissinger.
Impressive man, brilliant.
Bumped into him at the elevators of a hotel in NYC in '15 or '16 and followed him out of the hotel. He was pausing to joke and chat with the Bellboys, he was very gracious.
Bumped into him at the elevators of a hotel in NYC in '15 or '16 and followed him out of the hotel. He was pausing to joke and chat with the Bellboys, he was very gracious.
dnewton3
Staff member
Intelligent, brilliant Statesman.
RIP
RIP
A friend of mine’s grandfather graded his PhD thesis. A funny story was attached to that, I’ll mention below.**
I personally don’t agree with all his theories and actions; but there is no doubt he had an incredible, and almost uniquely “American life.” For those who don’t know all the details, here’ a link that goes from him being a Nazi refugee, to serious combat in the Battle of the Bulge, to valuable post-War army service, and beyond:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Kissinger
** The family story goes that at the time, Harvard had an unofficial thesis limit of 300 typed pages. Kissinger turned in a 600 page monstrosity. My friend’ grandad read to page 300, wrote “passed,” and wrote no further, stuck it back in Kissinger’s Gov dept. mailbox. Kissinger had some stress over it because he couldn’t find the result for some time.
Now whether this was the exact happening, or the family story as remembered, I don’t know 100% as I was not there. But this is how the professor’s wife told it to me a long time ago.
I personally don’t agree with all his theories and actions; but there is no doubt he had an incredible, and almost uniquely “American life.” For those who don’t know all the details, here’ a link that goes from him being a Nazi refugee, to serious combat in the Battle of the Bulge, to valuable post-War army service, and beyond:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Kissinger
** The family story goes that at the time, Harvard had an unofficial thesis limit of 300 typed pages. Kissinger turned in a 600 page monstrosity. My friend’ grandad read to page 300, wrote “passed,” and wrote no further, stuck it back in Kissinger’s Gov dept. mailbox. Kissinger had some stress over it because he couldn’t find the result for some time.
Now whether this was the exact happening, or the family story as remembered, I don’t know 100% as I was not there. But this is how the professor’s wife told it to me a long time ago.
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One of the most outstanding statesmen and diplomats of our time. Comedian Jackie Mason did a funny impression of Kissinger.
The ultimate Statesman , while being a contradiction between good and evil.
‘Henry Kissinger is one of the worst people to ever be a force for good.’
By Nicholas Thompson, editor of newyorker.com and author of The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan and the History of the Cold War
RIP
‘Henry Kissinger is one of the worst people to ever be a force for good.’
By Nicholas Thompson, editor of newyorker.com and author of The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan and the History of the Cold War
RIP
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I don't think penultimate means what you think it means. It means next to last.
This must be the mandela effect. (??) or maybe an entire group of my coworkers and I had it wrong for decades.
I just looked it up and you're right - changed and post clarified.
I remember him when I was a kid then teen. My dad hated the man. I actually had the curiosity to learn about Kissinger because as odd as it sounds I wanted to know why my dad hated him so.
Primarily I believe it was the so called womanizing- true or not
Primarily I believe it was the so called womanizing- true or not
OMG, I forgot about that. One time in the early 90s, my girlfriend’s mom took us to dinner in some obscure, plain, but highly-rated restaurant in Chinatown (NY). She got excited because a celebrity was next to us in this no-name retaurant. I thought it was Kissinger and then she said it was Jackie Mason. LoL, I was young and stupid. I didn’t actually get to talk to Jackie Mason, but I did nod knowingly at him.
Found it: here’s Jackie Mason doing Ted Kennedy and Henry Kissinger:
(No disrepect to Dr. Kissinger; if you are talked about, you are loved)
The bigger bombshell to me wasn't getting penultimate wrong for decades (I can remember the conversation I first heard the world ) is that I've had Ultimate wrong as well.
Ultimate means last.
Agreed!
OMG, I forgot about that. One time in the early 90s, my girlfriend’s mom took us to dinner in some obscure, plain, but highly-rated restaurant in Chinatown (NY). She got excited because a celebrity was next to us in this no-name retaurant. I thought it was Kissinger and then she said it was Jackie Mason. LoL, I was young and stupid. I didn’t actually get to talk to Jackie Mason, but I did nod knowingly at him.
Found it: here’s Jackie Mason doing Ted Kennedy and Henry Kissinger:
(No disrepect to Dr. Kissinger; if you are talked about, you are loved)
I hope no one is put off by a bit of humour over the years, but I recall a comedian, who might have been Jackie Mason, where Kissinger was involved in a slow and deliberate negotiation in that dead pan voice of his. He was negotiating with his wife to get her to remove her clothing.
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Met him age 10 , I remember his accent and unique look basically shooting 
with young mum at breakfast line in Cairo Egypt hotel. I wonder now if hitting on her as mum was 28.
with young mum at breakfast line in Cairo Egypt hotel. I wonder now if hitting on her as mum was 28.
So much time spent correcting definitions, most did not acknowledge your "contradiction between good and evil". In my younger years I, too, had the highest regard for him based on media coverage. To study about him in hindsight is eye opening. Brilliant people are very complex.
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Inserted a word. I agree, but an alternative twist would be, MOST brilliant people are often lacking in one or two areas. I have found, for example, many if not most very talented people couldn't bother learning just a couple social graces. And if they do, like Kissinger, some other flaw pops out, or is partially hidden.
Well balanced, truly brilliant people in all areas are very, very rare.
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