🔗 Share this article ‘After almost destroying the planet, the families are friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants. During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This happened when a US surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly 14 days of extreme anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The threat remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective into the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side planning? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another to the point they go against each other?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight." A Precipice of Catastrophe What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth." The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events. "You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress. "We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp
During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This happened when a US surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly 14 days of extreme anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The threat remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective into the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side planning? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another to the point they go against each other?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight." A Precipice of Catastrophe What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth." The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events. "You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress. "We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp