🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying the world, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants. During October 1962, the planet veered closer toward annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme tension. The Unthinkable Threat The danger remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity into total destruction. The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands. "What was the Russians thinking? What was the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest one another and confront one another?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight." The Brink of Disaster What is notable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism. A Divergent Viewpoint Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different version of events. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend
During October 1962, the planet veered closer toward annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme tension. The Unthinkable Threat The danger remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity into total destruction. The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands. "What was the Russians thinking? What was the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest one another and confront one another?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight." The Brink of Disaster What is notable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism. A Divergent Viewpoint Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different version of events. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend