🔗 Share this article ‘After nearly destroying our planet, the families are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. During October 1962, humanity came nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight of impossible tension. An Catastrophic Threat The peril remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting humanity into total ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side planning? What was the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of global relations. In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate each other and confront one another?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Disaster What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine and positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States." A Unprecedented Partnership This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress. "Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Echoes and Present Dangers Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend
During October 1962, humanity came nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight of impossible tension. An Catastrophic Threat The peril remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting humanity into total ruination. This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side planning? What was the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of global relations. In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate each other and confront one another?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare." A Brink Towards Disaster What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody realised. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events. "As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine and positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States." A Unprecedented Partnership This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress. "Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat." Modern Echoes and Present Dangers Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend