Nancy Kissinger, a philanthropist and former foreign policy researcher, and the wife of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, died Thursday at her home in Kent, Connecticut. She was 92.
Her death was confirmed by Robert Johnson, manager of her property, who told The Associated Press that the cause was not disclosed. Johnson stated that she would be buried next to her late husband at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Born the daughter of a New York City lawyer, Nancy Kissinger met Henry Kissinger in the mid-1960s while working for New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller's Commission on Critical Choices for America. Henry Kissinger was a consultant for Rockefeller at the time. The couple married on March 30, 1974, in Arlington, Virginia. She was described by one profiler as a "brainy, Blass-bedecked blonde" who was a strong presence on the New York philanthropy scene and often seen at high fashion openings.
Michael Bloomberg, founder of the Bloomberg financial-news empire and former New York City mayor, remembered Nancy Kissinger as a "powerhouse of ideas and insights" who contributed to government and philanthropy, and served as Henry Kissinger's "most valued and trusted advisor." Bloomberg also noted her wisdom and discretion, adding that he and his wife were fortunate to call her a friend and witness the couple's "extraordinary partnership."
In 1982, Nancy Kissinger made headlines when she attempted to restrain a woman who was verbally harassing her and her husband at Newark Airport. The couple was en route to Boston, where Henry Kissinger was scheduled for bypass surgery. The woman, associated with a group linked to politician Lyndon LaRouche, accused Nancy Kissinger of assault. Nancy Kissinger stated her actions were to shield her husband from distress. A judge later acquitted her of assault, characterizing her behavior as a "spontaneous and somewhat human reaction to an offensive question."