🔗 Share this article ‘After almost annihilating our planet, our families are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants. In the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable stress. An Catastrophic Threat The danger was obvious. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging humanity into total destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side considering? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations. For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they confront each other?" "I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare." The Brink of Catastrophe What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth." The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism. A Different Perspective Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events. "You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress. "Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Modern Echoes with Present Perils Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn
In the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable stress. An Catastrophic Threat The danger was obvious. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging humanity into total destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a completely new dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side considering? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations. For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they confront each other?" "I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare." The Brink of Catastrophe What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth." The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism. A Different Perspective Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events. "You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress. "Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Modern Echoes with Present Perils Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn