🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying our world, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, the world came nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of impossible anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands. "What was the Russians considering? What was the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can people hate one another to the point they confront each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Catastrophe What is striking regarding this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events. "You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn
During October 1962, the world came nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of impossible anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands. "What was the Russians considering? What was the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can people hate one another to the point they confront each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Catastrophe What is striking regarding this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events. "You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn