🔗 Share this article ‘After nearly annihilating the world, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants. In October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable anxiety. An Unthinkable Danger The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward total destruction. The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs. In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate one another and confront each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism. A Divergent Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn
In October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable anxiety. An Unthinkable Danger The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward total destruction. The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a completely new perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the men who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs. In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate one another and confront each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism. A Divergent Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn