Dec. 29 (Bloomberg) -- An attempt by British diplomats to flatter Henry Kissinger by arranging for him to be awarded an honorary degree from Oxford University was rebuffed by academics, U.K. government papers released by the national archive show.

Government papers from 1975, opened to the public under a rule allowing publication today of previously secret material after 30 years, also contain contemporary jottings from diplomats about the private life of Senator Edward Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat, and dismissive assessments of Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter before they became president.

Of Kissinger, an official wrote, ``My spies tell me that academic honors are one field in which his ego is as yet unfulfilled.'' The official suggested asking Oxford whether it could grant a degree during a visit Kissinger was planning to make to the U.K. when he was secretary of state.

The files of typed and handwritten memos, often by anonymous authors with scribbled notes in the margins in different hands, suggest the British government was keen to ingratiate itself with the U.S.

``Dr. Kissinger is a man who responds to admiration and being liked,'' wrote Cabinet Secretary John Hunt, then the U.K.'s most senior civil servant, in a note suggesting Foreign Secretary Jim Callaghan cultivate Kissinger.

A colleague suggested, ``We could do ourselves some good'' by getting Kissinger an Oxford degree, and at least two members of the Foreign Office raised the idea with academics. They were told the move would be unpopular in the university, due to Kissinger's involvement in the Vietnam War, including the bombing of Cambodia.

The file also notes that Kissinger has a difficult relationship with ``the ambitious Don Rumsfeld, whom he does not like.'' In 1975, Rumsfeld was White House chief of staff, and then defense secretary, a post he has returned to under George W. Bush.

``I still find it difficult to take his candidature seriously,'' she said. ``He might well however end up as somebody's vice presidential running mate.'' Following this assessment, diplomats barely mentioned Carter as a possible candidate for the rest of the year. He went on to be elected the 39th president in 1976.

The British were more astute about Reagan who would defeat Carter in 1980. In 1975, Reagan, then governor of California, was running against Ford to be the Republican presidential nominee. Assessing his chances, diplomat Derek Thomas noted his ``sex appeal,'' concluding he was ``an image maker's image maker,'' and ``inclined to attack the things that the majority of Americans are against.'' Reagan died in 2004.

Other documents show that Wilson's Labour government wanted to nationalize salmon fishing rights. While Wilson, who died in 1995, believed it would be a popular move with voters, he was persuaded that it would be too expensive and impractical.

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