🔗 Share this article ‘After nearly annihilating the planet, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. In the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Threat The danger was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out oblivion. The October crisis has been covered extensively, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands. "What was the Soviet side considering? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs. In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other and oppose each other?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." The Brink of Catastrophe What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened while it crept towards armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth." The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope. The Divergent Viewpoint Still, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and positive." Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family." "However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn
In the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Threat The danger was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out oblivion. The October crisis has been covered extensively, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands. "What was the Soviet side considering? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs. In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other and oppose each other?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." The Brink of Catastrophe What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened while it crept towards armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth." The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope. The Divergent Viewpoint Still, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened. "You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and positive." Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family." "However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn