🔗 Share this article Following nearly annihilating our planet, our families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance plane found the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted almost 14 days of unbearable anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Kremlin planning? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations. In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate one another and confront one another?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight." The Brink Towards Disaster What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of events. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America." A Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope. "Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Modern Parallels with Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp
During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance plane found the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted almost 14 days of unbearable anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Kremlin planning? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations. In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate one another and confront one another?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight." The Brink Towards Disaster What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth." The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope. A Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of events. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America." A Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope. "Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family." "But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Modern Parallels with Present Perils Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp