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Artist
Michael Arthur Worden Evans, 1944 - 1 Dec 2005
Sitter
Henry Kissinger, 27 May 1923 - 29 Nov 2023
Date
c. 1984
Type
Photograph
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions
Image: 55.5cm x 45.2cm (21 7/8" x 17 13/16")
Sheet: 60.6cm x 50.7cm (23 7/8" x 19 15/16")
Topic
Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses
Henry Kissinger: Male
Henry Kissinger: Education and Scholarship\Educator
Henry Kissinger: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Business executive
Henry Kissinger: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger: Nobel Prize
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the Portrait Project, Inc.
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Object number
S/NPG.92.240
Exhibition Label
Born in Fürth, Germany
Henry Kissinger shaped U.S. foreign policy for more than fifty years. To escape persecution of Jewish people in Germany, he immigrated to the United States in 1938. After serving in the U.S. Army (1943–46), Kissinger studied and taught at Harvard University.
In 1969, he joined the Nixon administration, eventually becoming secretary of state (1973–77). Kissinger popularized policy ideas including realpolitik, his realistic approach to world events, and détente, the relaxation of tensions he pursued with the Soviet Union. In 1973, he jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize with North Vietnamese diplomat Le Duc Tho for his role in securing a ceasefire in the Vietnam War. Tho refused to accept the award, arguing that the U.S. had broken its agreement.
After office, Kissinger continued to advise presidents through Donald Trump. However, his record on human rights issues, including his support for the removal of the democratically elected president of Chile and the secret bombings of Cambodia, remain divisive.
Nacido en Fürth, Alemania
Henry Kissinger ejerció su influencia en la política exterior estadounidense por más de 50 años. En 1938 inmigró a EE.UU. huyendo de la persecución de los judíos en Alemania. Tras servir en el ejército (1943–46), estudió y dictó cursos en la Universidad de Harvard.
En 1969, Kissinger se integró al gobierno de Richard Nixon y llegó a ser secretario de estado (1973–77). Popularizó ideas como la realpolitik —un enfoque realista de los sucesos mundiales– y la détente —la reducción de las tensiones con la Unión Soviética—. En 1973 ganó el Premio Nobel junto al diplomático norvietnamita Le Duc Tho por gestionar un cese al fuego en la Guerra de Vietnam. Tho rechazó el premio, afirmando que EE.UU. había violado su acuerdo.
Ya fuera de su puesto, Kissinger siguió asesorando a presidentes, incluido Donald Trump. No obstante, su ejecutoria en materia de derechos humanos —como su apoyo al derrocamiento de un presidente chileno elegido democráticamente y los bombardeos secretos a Camboya— continúa siendo objeto de debate.
