🔗 Share this article ‘After almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. During October 1962, humanity came nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme tension. The Unthinkable Danger The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting mankind toward all-out oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands. "What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest each other and oppose one another?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be allies or else can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Disaster What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it moved towards armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp
During October 1962, humanity came nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme tension. The Unthinkable Danger The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting mankind toward all-out oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands. "What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest each other and oppose one another?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be allies or else can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Disaster What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it moved towards armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp