🔗 Share this article Following nearly annihilating our world, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives. In October 1962, humanity edged closer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The danger was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting mankind into all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands. "What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront one another?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be allies or can become total enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight." The Brink of Catastrophe What is striking regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events. "You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Modern Echoes and Current Perils Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn
In October 1962, humanity edged closer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme anxiety. The Unthinkable Danger The danger was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting mankind into all-out destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands. "What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront one another?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be allies or can become total enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight." The Brink of Catastrophe What is striking regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events. "You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or positive." Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." An Unlikely Partnership The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit." Modern Echoes and Current Perils Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn