🔗 Share this article ‘After almost destroying the planet, our relatives are friends’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. During the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being built in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with extreme stress. The Unthinkable Threat The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward total oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations. In her view, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate one another and confront one another?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Disaster What is striking about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it moved towards disaster. Even so, the threat 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 Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America." A Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit." Modern Echoes and Current Perils Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn
During the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being built in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with extreme stress. The Unthinkable Threat The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward total oblivion. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations. In her view, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate one another and confront one another?" "It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Disaster What is striking about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it moved towards disaster. Even so, the threat 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 Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America." A Unprecedented Partnership The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family." "However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit." Modern Echoes and Current Perils Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn