🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying our world, the relatives have become allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, humanity veered nearer to destruction than at any other point in the contemporary era. This happened when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible anxiety. The Unthinkable Threat The peril remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Russians planning? What was the United States thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations. For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals detest one another and go against one another?" "It struck me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight." The Brink Towards Disaster What is remarkable about this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth." The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope. The Divergent Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative picture of what happened. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope. "We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp
During October 1962, humanity veered nearer to destruction than at any other point in the contemporary era. This happened when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible anxiety. The Unthinkable Threat The peril remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Russians planning? What was the United States thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations. For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals detest one another and go against one another?" "It struck me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight." The Brink Towards Disaster What is remarkable about this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth." The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope. The Divergent Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative picture of what happened. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of hope. "We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp