🔗 Share this article Following almost annihilating our planet, our families are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants. In October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The peril was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging mankind into total oblivion. The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Russians considering? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound it is that people can be friends or can become total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." A Precipice of Disaster What’s notable regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." A Unprecedented Partnership This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend
In October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The peril was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging mankind into total oblivion. The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Russians considering? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound it is that people can be friends or can become total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." A Precipice of Disaster What’s notable regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." A Unprecedented Partnership This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend