Henry Kissinger, a German-born American diplomat, academic, and presidential adviser who served as secretary of state for two U.S. presidents, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 100.

Kissinger was known for his influential role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, including pioneering the policy of détente with the Soviet Union, initiating diplomatic relations with China, and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for negotiating the Paris Peace Accords to end U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Kissinger’s legacy is marked by both admiration for his strategic brilliance and criticism for controversial policies, such as his involvement in the Vietnam War.

He continued to wield global influence even after leaving public office, maintaining relationships with world leaders.

Born in Germany, he fled the Nazis and became a prominent figure in American academia and government.

Kissinger’s impact on international relations and diplomacy is acknowledged, but his career is not without controversy, particularly concerning his role in geopolitical events like the Vietnam War and the Chilean coup.

Kissinger’s involvement in the Vietnam conflict, marked by the controversial bombing of Cambodia and Laos, drew attention. In 1973, he initiated secret negotiations with North and South Vietnam, leading to the Paris Peace Accords, aiming to conclude direct U.S. military engagement in Vietnam and bring an end to the war. Despite the short-lived cease-fire, Kissinger, along with his North Vietnamese counterpart Le Duc Tho, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973. However, Tho declined the prize due to the agreement’s failure to establish lasting peace.

The late author Christopher Hitchens, in his book “The Trial of Henry Kissinger,” accused Kissinger of supporting the September 1973 coup to remove Chilean Marxist President Salvador Allende. This event paved the way for the authoritarian regime of General Augusto Pinochet. Following Nixon’s resignation in 1974, Kissinger continued as secretary of state under President Ford until 1976.

After Ford’s unsuccessful re-election bid in 1976, Kissinger exited politics, returning to academia at Georgetown University’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. He founded Kissinger Associates, an international consulting firm, and took on roles as a director on various corporate and nonprofit boards.