‘After almost annihilating the world, the families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.
During the month of October 1962, the planet veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of impossible anxiety.
An Catastrophic Danger
The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting mankind into total ruination.
The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.
"What were the Russians considering? What were the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.
In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they go against one another?"
"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."
The Precipice Towards Catastrophe
What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.
"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."
The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.
The Divergent Perspective
Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.
"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful or sunny."
Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."
A Unlikely Collaboration
The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and 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 sign of hope.
"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."
Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers
Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves 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 be able to grasp
