🔗 Share this article Following almost destroying the world, the families have become friends’: the gripping audio series from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. During the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened when a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight of impossible anxiety. An Unthinkable Threat The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting civilization toward total destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented dimension to the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet in their hands. "What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people detest each other and confront each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight." The Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally could watch almost in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling 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 painted a slightly different narrative of what happened. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and positive." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Modern Parallels and Present Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp
During the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened when a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight of impossible anxiety. An Unthinkable Threat The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting civilization toward total destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented dimension to the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet in their hands. "What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people detest each other and confront each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight." The Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally could watch almost in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling 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 painted a slightly different narrative of what happened. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and positive." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Modern Parallels and Present Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp