🔗 Share this article ‘After almost annihilating the planet, the relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. In October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight of impossible tension. An Catastrophic Danger The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Kremlin planning? What was Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they oppose one another?" "It struck me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight." A Brink of Catastrophe What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America." A Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Echoes and Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp
In October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight of impossible tension. An Catastrophic Danger The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Kremlin planning? What was Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they oppose one another?" "It struck me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight." A Brink of Catastrophe What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America." A Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of progress. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Echoes and Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp