🔗 Share this article Following almost destroying our planet, our relatives are friends’: a thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. During October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme tension. An Catastrophic Threat The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out destruction. The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands. "What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations. For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people hate one another and go against each other?" "I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare." The Precipice of Catastrophe What is remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope. The Divergent Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit." Modern Parallels and Present Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp
During October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme tension. An Catastrophic Threat The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out destruction. The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity in their hands. "What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations. For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people hate one another and go against each other?" "I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare." The Precipice of Catastrophe What is remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope. The Divergent Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit." Modern Parallels and Present Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp