🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying our world, the relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants. In October 1962, the planet edged nearer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane found the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety. An Unthinkable Danger The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel dimension into the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands. "What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations. In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other and confront one another?" "I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." The Precipice Towards Disaster What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend
In October 1962, the planet edged nearer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane found the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety. An Unthinkable Danger The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel dimension into the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands. "What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations. In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other and confront one another?" "I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." The Precipice Towards Disaster What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend