Jill St John (left) is the first American Bond girl in the James Bond movie franchise, and appeared in 'Diamonds are Forever'. She is pictured with Henry Kissinger (right). The two, despite being romantically linked, denied any such relationship.
Credit: X/@FistedFoucault
Renowned diplomat and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who passed away at the age of 100 on Wednesday, leaves behind a multifaceted legacy that encompasses a Nobel Peace Prize and a profound impact on US foreign policy. However, it is worth noting that in his younger days on Capitol Hill, Kissinger was also known for his relationships with several notable women, earning him the moniker of "Washington's greatest swinger."
After divorcing his first wife in 1964, Kissinger married twice before tying the knot with his surviving spouse, 89-year-old Nancy. During his bachelor days, Kissinger's romantic liaisons with celebrities and accomplished women became a subject of fascination, leading to the "u" nickname, as referenced in a 1971 article by Women's Wear Daily (WWD).
In the WWD piece, based on an interview with Kissinger during his tenure as a White House staffer, the diplomat appeared enthusiastic when discussing his social life. The article noted that his romantic escapades held great appeal for him.
Kissinger's list of prominent companions included the likes of Candice Bergen, Shirley MacLaine, Jill St. John, Marlo Thomas, Liv Ullman, Samantha Eggar, and Diane Sawyer, who was then a fellow White House staffer, as reported by Reuters.
However, sources close to Kissinger suggested that the "playboy" image attributed to him was largely a creation of the media. Nonetheless, in a 1972 poll conducted by the Playboy Club Bunnies, Kissinger emerged as their top choice for "the man I would most like to go out on a date with," according to the Associated Press.
In the WWD interview, Kissinger humorously inquired whether the journalist, Kandy Stroud, was attempting to "seduce" him, expressing his appreciation for her HotPants. He also playfully responded to being labeled "Washington's greatest swinger" by saying, "That's no compliment. That's faint praise."
At the time of the interview, Kissinger was rumored to be involved with, and even secretly married to, Bond girl Jill St. John. Both parties, however, vehemently denied the rumors. St. John clarified to WWD that their connection was a "great friendship" rather than a "great romance."
Described by Stroud as the "sex symbol of the Nixon Administration," Kissinger eventually married Nancy Maginnes, a philanthropist from Manhattan who worked at the Rockefeller Foundation, in 1974. Their initial encounter took place while Kissinger was a professor at Harvard University, where Maginnes was a student.
(Disclaimer: This article has been written by a generative AI tool and has been edited and reviewed by the DH Web Desk.)