Henry Kissinger: Doctor of Diplomacy

As both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor in the Nixon and Ford administrations, Kissinger played a vital role in ending U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia, the commencement of detente with the Soviet Union, the opening of relations with China and in bringing the U.S. into the Middle East arena as a major player. In an important, well-balanced analysis, based in part on newly declassified data, Schulzinger tracks Kissinger's career. Although Kissinger's accomplishments are given full due, Schulzinger, history professor at the University of Colorado, emphasizes the gap between promise and fulfillment, showing, for instance, that Kissinger ``oversold'' detente with the Soviet Union. He also explores Kissinger's ``indifference to legal requirements'' in his role in the secret bombing of Cambodia and the 1970 invasion of that country, the 1972 Christmas bombing of North Vietnam, and the 1970-1973 efforts to destabilize the Allende government in Chile. Photos. (Nov.)