‘After nearly destroying the world, the families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.
During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer to ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was nearly 14 days of unbearable tension.
The Unthinkable Threat
The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting mankind toward all-out ruination.
The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, in books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.
"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.
In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can nations detest one another and confront one another?"
"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."
A Brink of Disaster
What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened as it crept closer to armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.
"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."
The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.
The Different Viewpoint
Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.
"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or sunny."
Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."
A Unprecedented Partnership
The Bomb is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.
"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."
"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."
Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers
Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp
