Zbigniew Brzezinski Bio
Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzeziński, also known as Zbig, was a prominent Polish-American diplomat, political scientist, and scholar.
Born on March 28, 1928, he served as the National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981, and he also worked as a counselor to President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1966 to 1968.
Throughout his career, Brzezinski was recognized for his expertise in international relations, particularly in the geopolitical tradition of Halford Mackinder and Nicholas J. Spykman.
While he was considered a member of the realist school of international relations, elements of liberal idealism were also identified in his outlook.
During his tenure as National Security Advisor, Brzezinski played a crucial role in major foreign policy events, such as the normalization of relations with the People’s Republic of China and the signing of the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II) with the Soviet Union.
He was also instrumental in brokering the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, and in supporting dissidents in Eastern Europe to undermine the influence of the Soviet Union.
Additionally, Brzezinski supported the Afghan mujahideen against Soviet occupation troops during the Soviet–Afghan War.
In addition to his government service, Brzezinski was a prolific scholar and teacher, serving as the Robert E. Osgood Professor of American Foreign Policy at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and as a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
He was also a member of various boards and councils, and was a frequent commentator on international affairs on various media outlets, including PBS, ABC News, and MSNBC’s Morning Joe program, where his daughter Mika Brzezinski serves as co-anchor.
He was considered a progressive thinker with strong anti-communist views, and he advocated for anti-Soviet containment, human rights, and a strong West.
Zbigniew Brzezinski’s legacy is not limited to his contributions to foreign policy and international relations. He was also a loving father to his three children, including his daughter Mika Brzezinski, who followed in his footsteps as a journalist and television personality.
His eldest son, Ian, is also a foreign policy expert, while his youngest son, Mark, served as the United States Ambassador to Sweden from 2011 to 2015, and currently serves as the United States Ambassador to Poland.
Zbigniew Brzezinski Net Worth at death
Zbigniew Brzezinski, a Polish-American diplomat and political scientist, was a prominent figure in American politics and foreign policy.
He served as President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Advisor from 1977 to 1981 and was estimated to have a net worth of $150 million at the time of his death on May 26, 2017.
Brzezinski was also a counselor to President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1966 to 1968, a scholar at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and a member of various boards and councils.
He was considered to be a realist in the field of international relations and was a prominent figure in the formation of The Trilateral Commission.
His contributions to major foreign policy events during his time in office included the normalization of relations with the People’s Republic of China, the signing of the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II) with the Soviet Union, and the brokering of the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.
Brzezinski was also a supporter of anti-Soviet containment and human rights organizations, and he encouraged dissidents in Eastern Europe to undermine the influence of the Soviet Union.
He appeared frequently as an expert on various news programs, including the PBS program The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, ABC News’ This Week with Christiane Amanpour, and on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, where his daughter, Mika Brzezinski, is co-anchor.
Zbigniew Brzezinski Cause of Death
Zbigniew Brzezinski, the renowned Polish-American diplomat and political scientist, passed away on May 26, 2017, at the age of 89.
He died at Inova Fairfax Hospital located in Falls Church, Virginia, the cause of death was due to advanced age. His funeral was held on June 9 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington, D.C.
The funeral service was attended by international diplomats and emissaries, journalists such as Carl Bernstein, Chuck Todd, and David Ignatius, as well as 100-year-old General Edward Rowny, former National Security Adviser Susan E. Rice, and former National Security Advisor, Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster.
Former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright were among those who delivered eulogies. Carter spoke fondly of his international flights on Air Force One, stating that if he could choose his seatmate, it would be Dr. Brzezinski.
Unfortunately, former National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, aged 94, was unable to attend, but a note he sent was read during the eulogy, expressing his sadness and acknowledging Brzezinski’s intellectual contributions.
Brzezinski’s passing was a significant loss for the diplomatic and political communities, and his insights and legacy continue to be remembered and valued.
Zbigniew Brzezinski Wife and Daughter
Brzezinski was married to the Czech-American artist Emilie Benes, who was the grandniece of Edvard Bene, the second president of Czechoslovakia.
They had three children together. Mark Brzezinski, his younger son, was born in 1965. He is a lawyer and was an expert on Russia and Southeastern Europe on President Clinton’s National Security Council.
He has also been the U.S. ambassador to Sweden (2011–2015) and Poland (since 2022). Mika Brzezinski, his daughter, was born in 1967.
She is a TV news anchor and co-host of Morning Joe, a daily morning show on MSNBC where she gives regular commentary and reads the news headlines.
Ian Brzezinski, his oldest son, was born in 1963. He is a Senior Fellow in the International Security Program and a member of the Strategic Advisors Group of the Atlantic Council.
Ian was also a principal at Booz Allen Hamilton and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO from 2001 to 2005.
