🔗 Share this article ‘After nearly annihilating our planet, our families have become friends’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives. In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable anxiety. An Unthinkable Danger The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward total oblivion. The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side planning? What was the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate each other to the point they oppose one another?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." A Precipice Towards Disaster What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet." The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Perspective Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of events. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "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 This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat." Modern Echoes with Present Dangers Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn
In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable anxiety. An Unthinkable Danger The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward total oblivion. The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side planning? What was the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate each other to the point they oppose one another?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." A Precipice Towards Disaster What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people realised. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet." The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Perspective Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of events. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "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 This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat." Modern Echoes with Present Dangers Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn