🔗 Share this article ‘After almost annihilating our world, our relatives are friends’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. In October 1962, the planet edged closer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days of impossible tension. An Catastrophic Danger The threat remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting mankind into all-out destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands. "What were the Russians planning? What were the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs. In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another and confront one another?" "I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact 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 lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight." A Brink of Catastrophe What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost in real time while it edged towards armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth." The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism. The Different Perspective Still, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened. "You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America." An Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced , well produced 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 momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend
In October 1962, the planet edged closer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost 14 days of impossible tension. An Catastrophic Danger The threat remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting mankind into all-out destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands. "What were the Russians planning? What were the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs. In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another and confront one another?" "I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact 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 lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight." A Brink of Catastrophe What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost in real time while it edged towards armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth." The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism. The Different Perspective Still, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened. "You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America." An Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so balanced , well produced 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 momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope. "Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend