Kissinger Praises Huntsman, Declines Endorsement

Despite one headline to the contrary, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger did not endorse Jon Huntsman as our next president today.

Headlines to the contrary, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger did not endorse Jon Huntsman as our next president today.

At a small session hosted by his “occasional adversary but permanent friend” Donald Rumsfeld to discuss Kissinger’s latest bestseller, On China, Kissinger was directly asked what he thought of Huntsman as a presidential contender. Kissinger stated his view that Huntsman had been “a very good ambassador” and was “a very intelligent man.” Pressed by Steve Clemons for an endorsement, Kissinger stopped short, joking that “I normally don’t endorse candidates, and part of the reason is that when I endorse a candidate, he loses.” He simply reiterated that Huntsman was able and “well poised.”

Additionally, he allowed that it was his hope that the Republican Party would nominate someone with a reasonable foreign policy, presumably meaning someone who shares his pragmatic Realism. Along those lines, he continues to be “available for foreign policy advice” but, at age 88, not interested in a formal role in government.

I’ll have more on Kissinger’s thoughts on China in a later post and a review of his fascinating book once I’ve finished it. (I’m at the stage where Nixon is doing the thing that only he can do.)

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. (I’m at the stage where Nixon is doing the thing that only he can do.)

    Fulfilling that ancient Vulcan proverb “Only Nixon could go to China”?

  2. James Joyner says:

    Precisely.

  3. The reason “only Nixon could go to China?” Because Nixon would have attacked anyone else who went to China.

  4. TG Chicago says:

    Hmmm, I’ve previously figured that Huntsman was running for 2016, but now I wonder if he’s actually running for Secretary of State.

  5. Mark Ivey says:

    Uncle Henry would make a good leader in Germany right now if he was interested, or is that me enjoying the character “Henry Killinger” on “The Venture Brothers” way to much?