🔗 Share this article Following almost annihilating the world, our families have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of impossible tension. The Unthinkable Danger The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging mankind into total ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, over 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another and confront one another?" "It struck me how spectacular the fact that individuals can be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight." A Precipice of Disaster What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism. The Divergent Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism. "We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Parallels and Current Dangers Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn
During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of impossible tension. The Unthinkable Danger The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging mankind into total ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, over 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another and confront one another?" "It struck me how spectacular the fact that individuals can be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight." A Precipice of Disaster What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism. The Divergent Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism. "We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Parallels and Current Dangers Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn