🔗 Share this article ‘After almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. In October 1962, the planet came closer to destruction more so than ever during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear missile installations were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with impossible tension. The Catastrophic Threat The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting civilization into all-out destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs. In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate each other and oppose one another?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that people can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight." The Brink Towards Disaster What is striking regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of events. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend
In October 1962, the planet came closer to destruction more so than ever during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear missile installations were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with impossible tension. The Catastrophic Threat The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting civilization into all-out destruction. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp. "What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs. In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate each other and oppose one another?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that people can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight." The Brink Towards Disaster What is striking regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch nearly in real time as it edged towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism. The Different Perspective Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of events. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend