 He never lost his pronounced Frankish accent, due to childhood shyness that made him hesitant to speak.A proponent of "Realpolitik", Kissinger played a dominant role in United States foreign policy between 1969 and 1977.During this period, he pioneered the policy of "détente" with the Soviet Union, orchestrated the opening of relations with the People's Republic of China, and negotiated the Paris Peace Accords, ending American involvement in the Vietnam War.