Henry Kissinger , a diplomat best known for being the Secretary of State and Defense during the Nixon and Ford administrations, is the principal basis of parody for the character, Dr. Henry Killinger.
A German-Jewish immigrant, Kissinger has been famous for many things, mostly connected to his tenure as Secretary: at one time, as a stand-out intellect and diplomat with a flair of personality; after Watergate, his reputation was greatly helped because he had no involvement and was already known as a man of great intellect and flair; he is famous as a proponent of practical considerations over ideological ones in regard to policy-making, a theory known as Realpolitik. He has been known to date celebrity actresses of the 60s including Marlo Thomas and Shirley MacLaine, quoted as saying "Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac".
He is and was despised by the anti-war left for his part in prolonging the Vietnam War, especially after the secret US bombing of Cambodia came to light. Kissinger's policy was defined by facing threats and problems, finding the most expedient ways to dispel or solve them, and then following those courses of action. Kissinger has been accused of war crimes, most notably in a book by Christopher Hitchens, an English expat intellectual journalist with a similarly idiosyncratic history and flamboyant character.
For all of the mystery, glamor, and controversy surrounding him, Kissinger's public image cuts a relatively good figure through the Nixon-era crowd, particularly because most people find him smart and likable, especially people who have been politically aware since before the Watergate scandal -- even people who were at that time part of the left. He has been known to advise other presidents on foreign policy, and in regard to the war in Iraq, has said that "victory over the insurgency is the only meaningful exit strategy." For a variety of reasons, including his associations with 60s authority and his vague reputation as a kind of dark, indestructible, likable, and mysterious genius, Kissinger is a very clever choice for Killinger's groundwork.
