Henry Kissinger spent only eight years in office, as US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, and briefly in both positions simultaneously.
Yet somehow he became the most decorated - and most famous - diplomat of the twentieth century, dominating the public arena long after he left government.
How did this happen? For nearly half a century, Kissinger worked relentlessly to burnish his reputation, determined to secure his place in the ranks of great statesmen.Barbara J. Keys reveals Kissinger as a master of reputation management: he bestows influence and charm on sympathetic journalists, publishers, and broadcasters, while using legal threats and covert pressure against critics.He hosted his biographers at his sprawling mansion in Connecticut, used his secret consulting work to enhance his continuing influence, and was keen to build alliances with various circles of the American establishment. In the midst of this, he was able to co-opt the institutions that were supposed to hold power accountable, and he succeeded in building a legacy that no one could ignore.
