Walter Isaacson on the Life and Legacy of Henry Kissinger | Amanpour and Company

Henry Kissinger, one of the most famous American Secretaries of State, died on Wednesday at 100. From his pivotal role in the Vietnam War to holding secret diplomatic talks with communist China, Kissinger wielded great diplomatic power. His influence was evident as world leaders offered their condolences. Russian president Vladimir Putin called him “a wise and visionary statesman” who “made it possible to achieve détente in international tensions and reach important Soviet-American agreements." In the Middle East, the Israeli president praised Kissinger for laying the foundation for Israel’s peace agreement with Egypt after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. But he was reviled by many for his role in the bombing of Cambodia and the rise of repressive regimes in Latin America. Historian and journalist Walter Isaacson, author of what many consider the definitive Kissinger biography, knows his subject’s life story inside and out. Walter joins Bianna to reflect on Kissinger’s life.

Originally aired on November 30, 2023

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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.

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