🔗 Share this article Following almost annihilating our planet, the families have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants. During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable tension. An Unthinkable Danger The peril was obvious. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization into total ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they confront each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight." A Brink Towards Disaster What’s notable about this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of events. "You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unprecedented Partnership This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn
During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to destruction than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable tension. An Unthinkable Danger The peril was obvious. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization into total ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they confront each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to fight." A Brink Towards Disaster What’s notable about this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of events. "You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unprecedented Partnership This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn