🔗 Share this article Following almost destroying the planet, the families are allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants. In October 1962, the world edged closer to destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred when a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of unbearable stress. The Unthinkable Threat The threat was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind into total ruination. The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Russians thinking? What was the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another and oppose one another?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight." The Precipice of Catastrophe What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope. A Different Perspective Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress. "We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family." "However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend
In October 1962, the world edged closer to destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred when a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of unbearable stress. The Unthinkable Threat The threat was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind into total ruination. The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Russians thinking? What was the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another and oppose one another?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight." The Precipice of Catastrophe What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope. A Different Perspective Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress. "We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family." "However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend