🔗 Share this article Following almost destroying our planet, the families are friends’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear weapon installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost two weeks of unbearable stress. The Catastrophic Threat The threat was obvious. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction. The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Russians considering? What were Washington considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations. For her, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose each other?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight." A Brink of Disaster What is remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope. A Different Perspective Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of what happened. "You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Echoes with Current Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn
During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear weapon installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost two weeks of unbearable stress. The Catastrophic Threat The threat was obvious. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction. The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Russians considering? What were Washington considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations. For her, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose each other?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight." A Brink of Disaster What is remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope. A Different Perspective Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of what happened. "You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Echoes with Current Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn