🔗 Share this article Following almost annihilating our world, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. In October 1962, humanity edged nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This happened after a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian nuclear weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with extreme anxiety. An Unthinkable Threat The danger was palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting mankind into total ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can people hate one another and oppose each other?" "It struck me how profound the fact that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare." The Precipice Towards Disaster What is striking about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope. A Divergent Perspective Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Echoes with Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn
In October 1962, humanity edged nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This happened after a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian nuclear weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with extreme anxiety. An Unthinkable Threat The danger was palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting mankind into total ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can people hate one another and oppose each other?" "It struck me how profound the fact that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare." The Precipice Towards Disaster What is striking about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth." The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope. A Divergent Perspective Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events. "You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Echoes with Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn