🔗 Share this article ‘After almost destroying the world, our relatives are friends’: the gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives. In October 1962, the planet veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days filled with impossible anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting humanity into all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands. "What was the Russians thinking? What were Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate each other and oppose each other?" "It was not lost on me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight." The Brink Towards Disaster What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet." The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism. A Different Viewpoint Yet, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp
In October 1962, the planet veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days filled with impossible anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting humanity into all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands. "What was the Russians thinking? What were Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate each other and oppose each other?" "It was not lost on me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight." The Brink Towards Disaster What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet." The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism. A Different Viewpoint Yet, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp