🔗 Share this article Following almost annihilating our world, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. In October 1962, the planet veered closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress. The Catastrophic Threat The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination. The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands. "What was the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate each other to the point they go against one another?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be friends or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What is remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept towards disaster. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth." The fact 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 were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism. "We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp
In October 1962, the planet veered closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress. The Catastrophic Threat The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination. The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity in their hands. "What was the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate each other to the point they go against one another?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be friends or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What is remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept towards disaster. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth." The fact 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 were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism. "We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp