🔗 Share this article ‘After almost destroying the world, the relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants. In the month of October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable stress. The Unthinkable Danger The danger was clear. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet in their hands. "What were the Russians thinking? What was the American side considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations. In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest one another to the point they confront one another?" "It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or else can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight." The Precipice of Catastrophe What is remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised. "Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet." The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of events. "You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine or sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Modern Parallels and Present Perils Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn
In the month of October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable stress. The Unthinkable Danger The danger was clear. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity toward all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet in their hands. "What were the Russians thinking? What was the American side considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations. In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest one another to the point they confront one another?" "It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or else can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight." The Precipice of Catastrophe What is remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised. "Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet." The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of events. "You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine or sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat." Modern Parallels and Present Perils Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn