🔗 Share this article ‘After almost annihilating our world, the relatives have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, humanity came closer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks of unbearable tension. The Unthinkable Danger The threat was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, casting civilization toward total oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another and go against one another?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight." A Precipice of Catastrophe What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time while it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope. The Different Viewpoint Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress. "We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Modern Parallels with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp
During October 1962, humanity came closer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks of unbearable tension. The Unthinkable Danger The threat was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, casting civilization toward total oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another and go against one another?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight." A Precipice of Catastrophe What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time while it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope. The Different Viewpoint Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress. "We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Modern Parallels with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp