🔗 Share this article ‘After almost annihilating the world, the relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, the world veered closer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired after a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of extreme anxiety. The Unthinkable Threat The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting humanity into all-out destruction. The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Soviet side planning? What were the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they oppose each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight." A Brink Towards Disaster What is striking about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth." The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or positive." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Parallels and Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend
During October 1962, the world veered closer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired after a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of extreme anxiety. The Unthinkable Threat The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting humanity into all-out destruction. The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb presents a novel dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Soviet side planning? What were the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations. In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they oppose each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight." A Brink Towards Disaster What is striking about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth." The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or positive." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Parallels and Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend