(Washington) The death of Henry Kissinger, an emblematic as well as controversial figure in American diplomacy, constitutes “a very great loss”, a White House spokesperson reacted on Thursday.
“He was a man who, whether you agree with him or not, served in World War II, bravely serving this country in uniform and for decades after that, I think we can all be grateful for his job,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in response to a question about the death of the 100-year-old former diplomat.
“There is no denying that he influenced foreign policy decisions for decades and certainly had an impact on America’s role in the world,” he added.
President Joe Biden, for his part, did not officially react to the news.
“He was extraordinarily generous with his wisdom and advice. Few people have been better students of history – and even fewer people have contributed more to shaping history – than Henry Kissinger,” declared US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, traveling in Israel, about its illustrious predecessor.