🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying the world, the families are allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. During October 1962, the world edged closer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable stress. The Catastrophic Danger The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, casting mankind into total ruination. The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other and oppose each other?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." The Brink of Disaster What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened. "You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful or sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States." An Unlikely Partnership The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva 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 remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp
During October 1962, the world edged closer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable stress. The Catastrophic Danger The peril was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, casting mankind into total ruination. The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other and oppose each other?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." The Brink of Disaster What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened. "You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful or sunny." Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States." An Unlikely Partnership The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva 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 remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism. "Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp