🔗 Share this article Following almost destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants. During October 1962, the world veered closer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with impossible stress. The Catastrophic Threat The threat was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting humanity toward total destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Russians planning? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate each other and confront each other?" "It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s notable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn
During October 1962, the world veered closer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with impossible stress. The Catastrophic Threat The threat was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting humanity toward total destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Russians planning? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate each other and confront each other?" "It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s notable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn