🔗 Share this article ‘After nearly annihilating our world, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives. During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days filled with extreme stress. The Unthinkable Danger The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp. "What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they oppose each other?" "I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare." The Precipice of Disaster What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. The Different Perspective Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America." A Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope. "We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn
During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days filled with extreme stress. The Unthinkable Danger The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp. "What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they oppose each other?" "I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare." The Precipice of Disaster What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. The Different Perspective Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America." A Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope. "We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn