🔗 Share this article ‘After nearly annihilating the planet, the families have become allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. In the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost two weeks filled with impossible tension. The Unthinkable Threat The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp. "What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate each other and go against each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the naval vessels and sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope. The Different Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events. "You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family." "However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn
In the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost two weeks filled with impossible tension. The Unthinkable Threat The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp. "What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate each other and go against each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the naval vessels and sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope. The Different Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events. "You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America." A Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family." "However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn