🔗 Share this article ‘After almost annihilating our planet, our relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable stress. An Unthinkable Threat The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out ruination. The October crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Russians considering? What were Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they confront one another?" "I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Disaster What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of events. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism. "We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp
In the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable stress. An Unthinkable Threat The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out ruination. The October crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Russians considering? What were Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they confront one another?" "I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Disaster What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of events. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism. "We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp