🔗 Share this article Following nearly annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, humanity came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days of unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, casting civilization into all-out destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side considering? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another to the point they confront one another?" "It was not lost on me how profound it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." The Brink of Disaster What’s notable regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it edged towards armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth." The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened. "You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp
During October 1962, humanity came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days of unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, casting civilization into all-out destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side considering? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another to the point they confront one another?" "It was not lost on me how profound it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." The Brink of Disaster What’s notable regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it edged towards armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth." The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism. The Divergent Viewpoint Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened. "You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family." "But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp