A practitioner of '' Realpolitik '' , Kissinger played a prominent role in United States foreign policy between 1969 and 1977 . During this period , he pioneered the policy of '' détente '' with the Soviet Union , orchestrated the opening of relations with the People 's Republic of China , engaged in what became known as shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East to end the Yom Kippur War , and negotiated the Paris Peace Accords , ending American involvement in the Vietnam War . Kissinger has also been associated with such controversial policies as U.S. involvement in the 1973 Chilean military coup , a " green light " to Argentina 's military junta for their Dirty War , and U.S. support for Pakistan during the Bangladesh War despite the genocide being perpetrated by his allies . After leaving government , he formed Kissinger Associates , an international geopolitical consulting firm . Kissinger has written over one dozen books on diplomatic history and international relations
genocide
1971 Bangladesh genocide
Henry Kissinger