🔗 Share this article Following almost annihilating the planet, our families have become allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK 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 happened when a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed was almost 14 days filled with extreme stress. An Catastrophic Threat The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward total destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they confront one another?" "It struck me how profound the fact that people can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Disaster What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope. The Different Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope. "Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Parallels and Current Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend
During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This happened when a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed was almost 14 days filled with extreme stress. An Catastrophic Threat The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward total destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they confront one another?" "It struck me how profound the fact that people can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Disaster What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope. The Different Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope. "Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Parallels and Current Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend