🔗 Share this article ‘After nearly annihilating the world, the families are allies’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives. In October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible stress. The Unthinkable Threat The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization into total ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Russians considering? What were Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate each other and confront each other?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." The Precipice of Catastrophe What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept towards disaster. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth." The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative picture of what happened. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny." Inside 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. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp
In October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible stress. The Unthinkable Threat The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization into total ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Russians considering? What were Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations. For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate each other and confront each other?" "It struck me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight." The Precipice of Catastrophe What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept towards disaster. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth." The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism. The Different Viewpoint Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative picture of what happened. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny." Inside 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. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States." A Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism. "Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat." Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp