In December 2008 , former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was given the American Patriot Award by the National Defense University Foundation " in recognition for his distinguished career in public service . " 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 , 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 a military coup in Chile , a " green light " to Argentina 's far-right military dictatorship for their dirty " war , " and U.S. support for Pakistan during the Bangladesh War despite a genocide . After leaving government , he formed Kissinger Associates , an international geopolitical consulting firm
genocide
1971 Bangladesh genocide
National Defense University