🔗 Share this article Following nearly annihilating the planet, our relatives are allies’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants. In October 1962, the planet veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Threat The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Russians thinking? What was Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can people hate each other to the point they confront each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Disaster What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events. "You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and positive." Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America." A Unlikely Partnership The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism. "We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn
In October 1962, the planet veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Threat The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Russians thinking? What was Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can people hate each other to the point they confront each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Disaster What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events. "You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and positive." Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America." A Unlikely Partnership The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism. "We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn