🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying the planet, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives. In the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened after a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed was nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The threat remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new element to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the world in their hands. "What were the Russians considering? What were the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they go against each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans can be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." The Precipice Towards Disaster What is striking regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth." The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened. "You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or positive." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unprecedented Partnership This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope. "We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat." Modern Parallels and Present Perils Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend
In the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened after a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed was nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The threat remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging mankind into all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new element to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the world in their hands. "What were the Russians considering? What were the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they go against each other?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans can be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." The Precipice Towards Disaster What is striking regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth." The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened. "You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or positive." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unprecedented Partnership This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope. "We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat." Modern Parallels and Present Perils Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend