🔗 Share this article ‘After almost destroying our planet, the families are allies’: a gripping audio series from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost two weeks filled with extreme anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting civilization into all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs. In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate one another and oppose each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost as it happened while it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope. The Different Viewpoint Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events. "You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope. "Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Modern Parallels and Present Dangers Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend
During October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost two weeks filled with extreme anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting civilization into all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces a novel element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs. In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate one another and oppose each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost as it happened while it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope. The Different Viewpoint Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events. "You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope. "Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Modern Parallels and Present Dangers Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend