🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying our world, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting civilization into all-out oblivion. The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the world in their hands. "What were the Russians thinking? What was the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations. In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest one another and go against one another?" "It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet." The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope. A Divergent Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful or sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "We are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family." "But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn
During October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety. The Catastrophic Danger The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting civilization into all-out oblivion. The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the world in their hands. "What were the Russians thinking? What was the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations. In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest one another and go against one another?" "It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised. "Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet." The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope. A Divergent Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened. "As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful or sunny." Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unprecedented Collaboration The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "We are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family." "But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn