🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying the planet, our families have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, humanity edged closer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian nuclear missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with impossible tension. An Unthinkable Threat The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging mankind into total oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel dimension to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp. "What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the American side planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they confront each other?" "It struck me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight." A Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s striking regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch almost in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Echoes and Present Perils Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend
During October 1962, humanity edged closer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian nuclear missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with impossible tension. An Unthinkable Threat The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging mankind into total oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel dimension to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp. "What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the American side planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they confront each other?" "It struck me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight." A Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s striking regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch almost in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit." Modern Echoes and Present Perils Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend