🔗 Share this article Following nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants. In October 1962, the world edged closer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase was almost two weeks filled with unbearable tension. An Catastrophic Danger The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series involving global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side considering? What was Washington thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do individuals detest one another and confront one another?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice of Catastrophe What is striking about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of optimism. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp
In October 1962, the world edged closer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase was almost two weeks filled with unbearable tension. An Catastrophic Danger The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series involving global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side considering? What was Washington thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do individuals detest one another and confront one another?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice of Catastrophe What is striking about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of optimism. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp