Dr. Henry Kissinger was controversial, he was a trusted advisor to POTUS Richard Nixon, as Secretrary of State and NSA, from 69-77, and since Nixon resigned rather than be impeached, everything he was associated with was tainted. He also advised POTUS Ford.
Dr. Kissinger was an important part of the negotiations to end the Viet Nam war. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for that in 1973. He was part of the "detente" negotiations with the USSR, and the opening of China with "ping-pong" diplomacy. 23 years after his service in the cabinet, he was the chair of the 9/11 commission.
It seems to me that the Nobel Prize is sort of the HOF election for politics.
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden