🔗 Share this article ‘After almost destroying the planet, our relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants. During October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety. An Unthinkable Danger The peril was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging civilization into total destruction. The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Kremlin considering? What was the United States thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs. For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can individuals detest one another and oppose one another?" "I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight." The Precipice of Disaster What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe almost in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope. A Different Perspective Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of events. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and positive." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact 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 first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America 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 are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn
During October 1962, the world edged nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety. An Unthinkable Danger The peril was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging civilization into total destruction. The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Kremlin considering? What was the United States thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs. For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can individuals detest one another and oppose one another?" "I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight." The Precipice of Disaster What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe almost in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope. A Different Perspective Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of events. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and positive." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact 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 first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America 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 are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn