🔗 Share this article Following almost annihilating our planet, our relatives have become allies’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives. During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with impossible stress. An Unthinkable Danger The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands. "What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate one another to the point they oppose one another?" "It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight." A Precipice Towards Disaster What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost as it happened while it edged towards disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope. The Different Perspective Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events. "You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp
During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with impossible stress. An Unthinkable Danger The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands. "What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate one another to the point they oppose one another?" "It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight." A Precipice Towards Disaster What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost as it happened while it edged towards disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope. The Different Perspective Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events. "You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp