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Kissinger’s Role in History

Click to see original imageOnly history can judge Henry Kissinger’s success in helping to fashion an enduring structure of world peace during his tenure as American secretary of state. Even his harshest critics must agree that Kissinger’s place among this country’s outstanding secretaries of state is assured. But even his staunchest admirers must concede that his reputation rests less on actual permanent accomplishment than on the potential or promise of it through his diplomacy. Perhaps we are too close to the picture of Kissinger’s service to see it in its historical perspective. His skill as a negotiator and gobetween diplomat working for peace between the Israelis and Arabs shone brilliantly. Here perhaps was the scene of his greatest triumph. Yet the troublesome mideast situation is far from permanently concluded. What progress has been made in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (Salt) has been by virtue of concession after concession by the United States with over-all results that are uncertain at this stage. Successes and failures racked up in these negotiations can only be attributed in part to Kissinger, of course. The peace agreement ending the Vietnam War, for which Kissinger shared a Nobel Prize, eventuated in humiliating retreat by the United States after loss of tens of thousands of American lives. The web which pulled this country into that unfortunate struggle was not of Kissinger’s making, of course, and there were no easy routes in extricating ourselves or in negotiating a satisfactory peace. In the final analysis it was the determined bombing ordered by President Nixon which brought the Communists to the peace table. Angola was another story and Congress declined to give a goahead to Kissinger-Ford proposals for increasing aid to the anti-Red forces. Effectiveness of the Kissinger endorsed plans in the tough Rhodesian situation is still to be determined. Right now the various interests are having a hard time getting together on a rescheduled conference in January to work out details and timing on a transfer of power. Certainly Kissinger has shown brilliance in many foreign negotiations, plus dogged persistence. As he prepares to leave office he deserves commendation for his courageous efforts. But again, it will remain for history to determine the full extent of his successes or failures in his difficult assignment. The Golden Landmark Young couples tying the matrimonial knot today have a better than 3 out of 10 chance of living long enough to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. According to the American Council of Life Insurance, the odds for a 23ayearold man and 21year-old woman (the current median ages for first marriage) surviving 50 years of marriage have climbed from 140 per 1,000 marriages 75 years ago to 334 today. The not-so-good news is that more and more people are divorcing long before they reach the golden landmark. The national divorce rate has tripled during the past 50 years. Yet because most people who divorce marry again – 75 per cent of the women and 80 per cent of the men do – the prospects of reaching less distant marital milestones have also improved. I For example, the chances of a 35-yearold bridegroom and 30year-old bride celebrating silver wedding anniversary are about 7 out of 10, which are better odds than those for even a very young couple at the turn of the century. And a couple marrying at age 65 today can look forward to their tin anniversary, or at least 10 years nf mnrrinun So They Suy ”0ur’ problem is the slow reception of new ideas and suggestions for change.” – Lillian Woo, director of the Consumer Center of North