Henry Kissinger's Last Monumental Plea
The contentious ex-secretary of state has made a request for his grave to be honored with a monument. However, that request will not be fulfilled.
TroibNews 
Henry Kissinger was renowned for his substantial ego, and as he approached the end of his life, he made a noteworthy request: a physical monument in his memory.
In his will, the former secretary of state, who passed away last year at the age of 100, called for a “monument” to be erected in Arlington National Cemetery, marking the location of his burial. His will instructed executors to “pay all amounts necessary” to create the tribute in line with “then-applicable regulations.”
For the first time, Kissinger’s estate documents reveal a considerable personal fortune amassed over four decades — estimated to be at least $80 million — through his controversial consulting firm, Kissinger Associates. This firm was pioneering in its approach, as it specialized in leveraging connections forged during government service to assist private clients, particularly facilitating access for business executives to China.
Kissinger’s net worth at his death may have been significantly more than the $80 million estimate, as that figure included only his financial investments and cash, excluding property such as his home in northwestern Connecticut, his Manhattan apartment, and his interests in his consulting business. The will and related estate documents were quietly filed with the New York court system late last year.
Few figures in American diplomatic history have sparked as much debate as Kissinger. Serving as national security adviser and secretary of state during the Nixon and Ford administrations, he played a crucial role in establishing diplomatic relations with China and negotiating a cease-fire in Vietnam, for which he shared the Nobel Peace Prize.
However, many critics condemned him for being indifferent to the human costs of his policies and have accused him of war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly regarding the carpet bombing of Cambodia. Numerous Vietnam War veterans and Bangladeshi citizens hold him in disdain for his actions during that turbulent period.
Kissinger actively shaped his image as one of the world's most influential statesmen, taking pleasure in the power he wielded over world leaders. He famously noted that “the appearance of power is therefore almost as important as the reality of it” and stated that “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.”
Daniel Drezner, a professor at Tufts University who has extensively analyzed Kissinger's impact and the consulting industry he helped to create, chuckled upon learning about Kissinger's request for a monument in Arlington. Drezner observed that beneath Kissinger's persistent self-promotion was a sense of insecurity.
"That he would request this is just further evidence of that insecurity and a desire to rewrite his legacy," Drezner commented. "You could argue that an awful lot of what Kissinger did after he stepped down as secretary of state was finding ways to burnish that legacy such that future generations would look at him with respect rather than with controversy."
The specific nature of the "monument" Kissinger envisioned remains ambiguous. Most graves at Arlington are marked by simple white headstones that cover much of the cemetery's extensive grounds. A limited number of graves possess larger headstones, termed “private markers” by the cemetery.
Kissinger, who served in the Army during World War II, is interred in a section that contains some of these larger markers. Notably, a headstone nearby honors a former leader of the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's renowned aerial squadron. His gravesite is also close to a large memorial honoring those who died in the Spanish-American War.
The will designated four executors to fulfill his final wishes, including former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who opted not to comment on his role.
Former senior diplomat L. Paul Bremer, who managed Kissinger’s consulting firm in the 1990s and was appointed as his literary executor, stated that there would not be a monument as originally intended but rather “a tombstone, a grave marker, on his gravesite.” Bremer clarified that this decision stemmed from conversations with Arlington officials. “They assigned a very competent Army colonel who helped us,” he mentioned.
Bremer explained that Arlington has recently tightened regulations regarding private markers, and in discussions prior to Kissinger's death, he indicated a desire to adhere to these rules. Currently, the grave contains only a small, temporary marker, and Bremer indicated it could take years to establish a permanent headstone.
Olivia Van Den Heuvel, a spokesperson for Arlington National Cemetery, confirmed that new rules issued in 2018 prevent the installation of private markers. However, because Kissinger received a “presidential reservation for his gravesite” in January 2017 and had requested a private marker before the new rules took effect, his executors are permitted to install a headstone at his estate's expense.
Nonetheless, any future installation will not be a grand column; the size will be limited to 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, as stated by Van Den Heuvel. In comparison, Arlington's iconic white headstones measure 42 inches tall, 13 inches wide, and 4 inches thick.
Kissinger's wealth has been a topic of speculation, particularly among critics of his consulting work. After leaving government, many former officials opted for legal practices to monetize their experience; however, Kissinger established a new model with his strategic consulting firm, assisting companies with global interests. Over the years, his firm worked with various high-profile clients, including ITT, Fiat, H.J. Heinz, and Hunt Oil, with Maurice “Hank” Greenberg of AIG being one of his first and most loyal clients.
Kissinger upheld a level of confidentiality about his clients, leading to unpublicized partnerships. In 2002, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to lead the commission investigating the 9/11 attacks, but he resigned upon realizing he would need to disclose his clients.
Following Kissinger's path, many prominent public figures established their own international consulting firms, including Brent Scowcroft and former secretaries of state Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice.
One of Kissinger's prominent services was aiding companies wishing to engage with China, especially during the 1980s and 1990s when China was seen as the world's primary untapped market. He frequently defended the Chinese regime and conveyed their perspectives to Washington. Following the brutal Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989, where troops killed numerous demonstrators, Kissinger wrote a notable op-ed defending the Chinese government's actions, suggesting that “No government in the world would have tolerated having the main square of its capital occupied for eight weeks by tens of thousands of demonstrators.”
The probate court documents do not detail the assets comprising the $80 million estimate, which will primarily benefit Kissinger's wife, Nancy, and his family or a trust for them.
Kissinger’s 20-page will also details the handling of his papers. Like other public officials, he was mandated to submit his White House and State Department documents to the Library of Congress. However, Bremer predicted that the process of declassifying and making these papers public may take years, if not decades. Most of his private, non-government documents have been donated to Yale University.
Drezner expressed surprise at the $80 million estimate, suggesting that Kissinger’s net worth might exceed that figure, emphasizing that he “did blaze the trail” for others to monetize their governmental experience through consulting.
“In a weird way, Kissinger was genuinely an innovator,” Drezner concluded.
Regardless, Kissinger’s legacy at Arlington may not be as prominent as he envisioned, as indicated by the forthcoming headstone.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
In his will, the former secretary of state, who passed away last year at the age of 100, called for a “monument” to be erected in Arlington National Cemetery, marking the location of his burial. His will instructed executors to “pay all amounts necessary” to create the tribute in line with “then-applicable regulations.”
For the first time, Kissinger’s estate documents reveal a considerable personal fortune amassed over four decades — estimated to be at least $80 million — through his controversial consulting firm, Kissinger Associates. This firm was pioneering in its approach, as it specialized in leveraging connections forged during government service to assist private clients, particularly facilitating access for business executives to China.
Kissinger’s net worth at his death may have been significantly more than the $80 million estimate, as that figure included only his financial investments and cash, excluding property such as his home in northwestern Connecticut, his Manhattan apartment, and his interests in his consulting business. The will and related estate documents were quietly filed with the New York court system late last year.
Few figures in American diplomatic history have sparked as much debate as Kissinger. Serving as national security adviser and secretary of state during the Nixon and Ford administrations, he played a crucial role in establishing diplomatic relations with China and negotiating a cease-fire in Vietnam, for which he shared the Nobel Peace Prize.
However, many critics condemned him for being indifferent to the human costs of his policies and have accused him of war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly regarding the carpet bombing of Cambodia. Numerous Vietnam War veterans and Bangladeshi citizens hold him in disdain for his actions during that turbulent period.
Kissinger actively shaped his image as one of the world's most influential statesmen, taking pleasure in the power he wielded over world leaders. He famously noted that “the appearance of power is therefore almost as important as the reality of it” and stated that “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.”
Daniel Drezner, a professor at Tufts University who has extensively analyzed Kissinger's impact and the consulting industry he helped to create, chuckled upon learning about Kissinger's request for a monument in Arlington. Drezner observed that beneath Kissinger's persistent self-promotion was a sense of insecurity.
"That he would request this is just further evidence of that insecurity and a desire to rewrite his legacy," Drezner commented. "You could argue that an awful lot of what Kissinger did after he stepped down as secretary of state was finding ways to burnish that legacy such that future generations would look at him with respect rather than with controversy."
The specific nature of the "monument" Kissinger envisioned remains ambiguous. Most graves at Arlington are marked by simple white headstones that cover much of the cemetery's extensive grounds. A limited number of graves possess larger headstones, termed “private markers” by the cemetery.
Kissinger, who served in the Army during World War II, is interred in a section that contains some of these larger markers. Notably, a headstone nearby honors a former leader of the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's renowned aerial squadron. His gravesite is also close to a large memorial honoring those who died in the Spanish-American War.
The will designated four executors to fulfill his final wishes, including former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who opted not to comment on his role.
Former senior diplomat L. Paul Bremer, who managed Kissinger’s consulting firm in the 1990s and was appointed as his literary executor, stated that there would not be a monument as originally intended but rather “a tombstone, a grave marker, on his gravesite.” Bremer clarified that this decision stemmed from conversations with Arlington officials. “They assigned a very competent Army colonel who helped us,” he mentioned.
Bremer explained that Arlington has recently tightened regulations regarding private markers, and in discussions prior to Kissinger's death, he indicated a desire to adhere to these rules. Currently, the grave contains only a small, temporary marker, and Bremer indicated it could take years to establish a permanent headstone.
Olivia Van Den Heuvel, a spokesperson for Arlington National Cemetery, confirmed that new rules issued in 2018 prevent the installation of private markers. However, because Kissinger received a “presidential reservation for his gravesite” in January 2017 and had requested a private marker before the new rules took effect, his executors are permitted to install a headstone at his estate's expense.
Nonetheless, any future installation will not be a grand column; the size will be limited to 4 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, as stated by Van Den Heuvel. In comparison, Arlington's iconic white headstones measure 42 inches tall, 13 inches wide, and 4 inches thick.
Kissinger's wealth has been a topic of speculation, particularly among critics of his consulting work. After leaving government, many former officials opted for legal practices to monetize their experience; however, Kissinger established a new model with his strategic consulting firm, assisting companies with global interests. Over the years, his firm worked with various high-profile clients, including ITT, Fiat, H.J. Heinz, and Hunt Oil, with Maurice “Hank” Greenberg of AIG being one of his first and most loyal clients.
Kissinger upheld a level of confidentiality about his clients, leading to unpublicized partnerships. In 2002, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to lead the commission investigating the 9/11 attacks, but he resigned upon realizing he would need to disclose his clients.
Following Kissinger's path, many prominent public figures established their own international consulting firms, including Brent Scowcroft and former secretaries of state Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice.
One of Kissinger's prominent services was aiding companies wishing to engage with China, especially during the 1980s and 1990s when China was seen as the world's primary untapped market. He frequently defended the Chinese regime and conveyed their perspectives to Washington. Following the brutal Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989, where troops killed numerous demonstrators, Kissinger wrote a notable op-ed defending the Chinese government's actions, suggesting that “No government in the world would have tolerated having the main square of its capital occupied for eight weeks by tens of thousands of demonstrators.”
The probate court documents do not detail the assets comprising the $80 million estimate, which will primarily benefit Kissinger's wife, Nancy, and his family or a trust for them.
Kissinger’s 20-page will also details the handling of his papers. Like other public officials, he was mandated to submit his White House and State Department documents to the Library of Congress. However, Bremer predicted that the process of declassifying and making these papers public may take years, if not decades. Most of his private, non-government documents have been donated to Yale University.
Drezner expressed surprise at the $80 million estimate, suggesting that Kissinger’s net worth might exceed that figure, emphasizing that he “did blaze the trail” for others to monetize their governmental experience through consulting.
“In a weird way, Kissinger was genuinely an innovator,” Drezner concluded.
Regardless, Kissinger’s legacy at Arlington may not be as prominent as he envisioned, as indicated by the forthcoming headstone.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
