🔗 Share this article ‘After almost destroying our world, our relatives are friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. During the month of October 1962, the world veered closer toward destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks of extreme stress. An Unthinkable Threat The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward total ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands. "What were the Russians considering? What was the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs. In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate one another and go against each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans can be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly as it happened while it crept closer to disaster. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America." An Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of optimism. "We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Modern Parallels with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp
During the month of October 1962, the world veered closer toward destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks of extreme stress. An Unthinkable Threat The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward total ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands. "What were the Russians considering? What was the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs. In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate one another and go against each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans can be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch nearly as it happened while it crept closer to disaster. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America." An Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of optimism. "We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Modern Parallels with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp