Henry Kissinger

The German born Heinz Alfred Kissinger graduated as a straight 'A' student from George Washington High School in New York City in 1941. He later became President Richard M. Nixon's National Security Adviser and Secretary of State. Although, he won (with Le Duc Tho) the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for ending the Vietnam War, he is still criticized (some call him a war criminal) for not helping to negotiate a peace settlement earlier. Many historians believe that Kissinger and Nixon moved to end the war in Vietnam later than originally promised (in the 1968 campaign) due to cynical re-election considerations.

However, Kissinger remains influential in the Republican party to this day and seems to be responsible for prolonging another war. Indeed, during the George W. Bush presidency he was a frequent guest at the White House and, according to Washington Post reporter and author Bob Woodward, he advised the president that "Victory is the only meaningful exit strategy" in Iraq.