🔗 Share this article ‘After almost annihilating the planet, the families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, the planet came closer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when an American reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet atomic missile bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the world within their grasp. "What was the Kremlin planning? What were the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose one another?" "It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Disaster What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he 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 connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Echoes with Present Dangers Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp
During October 1962, the planet came closer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when an American reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet atomic missile bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the world within their grasp. "What was the Kremlin planning? What were the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose one another?" "It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Disaster What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he 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 connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Echoes with Present Dangers Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp