Kissinger returns to Harvard

Henry A. Kissinger, who served as National Security adviser and secretary of state during the Nixon and Ford administrations after 15 years as a member of the Harvard faculty, will be the featured speaker on a panel discussion in Sanders Theatre on April 11.

Kissinger ’50, A.M. ’52, Ph.D. ’54, was the nation’s 56th secretary of state from September 1973 until January 1977.  He also served as assistant to the president for National Security Affairs from January 1969 until November 1975.  He is currently chairman of Kissinger Associates, an international consulting firm.

A recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, Kissinger is the author of more than a dozen books on foreign policy, international affairs, and diplomatic history, most recently “On China,” published in 2011.  After his undergraduate and doctoral studies at Harvard, he served on the Harvard faculty from 1954 to 1969, with appointments in the Government Department and the Center for International Affairs.

“Henry Kissinger has played a central role in some of the most consequential U.S. foreign policy matters of the past half-century,” said Harvard President Drew Faust. “He continues to be a highly influential figure in thinking about global affairs, and he has ties to Harvard that extend back more than 65 years. His visit will provide an important opportunity for a Harvard audience to hear a figure of historic significance reflect on some of the most profound challenges facing the United States and the world.”

With a welcome by Faust, “A Conversation with Henry Kissinger” will be moderated by Graham Allison, the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government and director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Panelists will be Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor Joseph Nye and Jessica Blankshain, a doctoral student in political economy and government at the Harvard Kennedy School.

The event is one of several held this academic year to highlight the experiences of prominent alumni during Harvard’s 375th anniversary celebration.

“A Conversation with Henry Kissinger” will be held at 4 p.m. April 11. The event will be ticketed, and is free and open to all members of the Harvard community.  Information on how to obtain tickets will be made available at a later date.