🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying the world, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives. During the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened when a US surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase was nearly 14 days filled with impossible stress. The Unthinkable Danger The peril was obvious. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging humanity toward total ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands. "What was the Russians thinking? What were Washington considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the strength of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate one another and go against one another?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people can be friends or can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare." A Precipice of Disaster What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time as it crept closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress. "We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat." Modern Parallels with Current Perils Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend
During the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened when a US surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase was nearly 14 days filled with impossible stress. The Unthinkable Danger The peril was obvious. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging humanity toward total ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands. "What was the Russians thinking? What were Washington considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the strength of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate one another and go against one another?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people can be friends or can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare." A Precipice of Disaster What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time as it crept closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress. "We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat." Modern Parallels with Current Perils Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend