The legacy of Henry Kissinger

The death of Henry Kissinger prompts well-deserved remembrances: “Former secretary of state,” “Architect of President Nixon’s ping-pong China diplomacy” and, less known, “Bronze Star World War II veteran.” I read his book “On China,” published in 2011, and learned all I know now about psychology and strategy. I was fortunate to gain access to his Ph.D. thesis from Harvard, where he graduated summa cum laude after World War II.

The key point made in his brilliant dissertation was the distinction between “legitimacy” and “justice” in foreign policy. Leaders in his native Germany and my native Italy before WWII had obtained legitimacy. The rest is … history. Tragic and devastating history for decades to come.

History seems to repeat itself. A generation with new priorities, shorter attention spans, used to instant gratification, focused on their future and dismissive of the past, may benefit from putting down their phones and thinking about Henry Kissinger’s legacy for 30 seconds.

Victor E. Pricolo, Barrington