Kissinger Associates - Client Base

Client Base

Kissinger Associates does not disclose its list of corporate clients, and reportedly bars clients from acknowledging the relationship. However, over time details from proxy statements and the tendency of senior businessmen to talk about their relationship with Kissinger have leaked out and a number of major corporate clients have been identified.

The secrecy of their corporate client list has caused problems where Kissinger or a member of his staff were called to public service. In 1989, George H.W. Bush nominated Lawrence Eagleburger as his Deputy Secretary of State. Congress required that Eagleburger disclose the names of 16 clients, some of which were his through his Kissinger Associates affiliation. Later, Kissinger himself was appointed chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States by George W. Bush. Congressional Democrats insisted that Kissinger disclose the names of clients. Kissinger and President Bush claimed that such disclosures were not necessary, but Kissinger ultimately stepped down, citing conflicts of interest.

A selected list of the more notable companies (from over two dozen in total) since 1982; his directorships where applicable; and some countries where known advice/contacts were used:

• American Express - Director (Hungary, Japan)
• American International Group - Director, International Advisory Committee (Argentina, China, South Korea)
• Atlantic Richfield
• Chase Manhattan Bank (now JPMorgan Chase) - Chairman, International Advisory Committee
• Coca-Cola (Malaysia)
• Fiat
• Freeport-McMoRan - Director (Burma, Indonesia, Panama)
• Heinz (Ivory Coast, Turkey, Zimbabwe)
• Hollinger, Inc. - Director
• Lehman Brothers Kissinger McLarty Assoc. is listed as a creditor in the Bankruptcy Filings.
• Merck
• Volvo
• Warburg