🔗 Share this article Following almost destroying the world, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened after an American surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was almost two weeks of unbearable stress. An Unthinkable Danger The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting civilization toward total oblivion. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel perspective into the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp. "What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do people detest each other and go against each other?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Disaster What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved towards disaster. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events. "You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress. "Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Parallels with Present Dangers Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend
During October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened after an American surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was almost two weeks of unbearable stress. An Unthinkable Danger The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting civilization toward total oblivion. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel perspective into the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp. "What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do people detest each other and go against each other?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Disaster What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved towards disaster. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events. "You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress. "Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Parallels with Present Dangers Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend