🔗 Share this article Following nearly destroying the planet, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. During October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened when a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of extreme stress. An Unthinkable Threat The peril was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting mankind into all-out destruction. The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Russians planning? What was Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate each other and oppose each other?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight." The Precipice of Disaster What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards armageddon. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or positive." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp
During October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened when a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of extreme stress. An Unthinkable Threat The peril was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting mankind into all-out destruction. The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp. "What was the Russians planning? What was Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs. For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate each other and oppose each other?" "It struck me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight." The Precipice of Disaster What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it crept towards armageddon. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time. "Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth." The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope. The Divergent Viewpoint Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events. "As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or positive." Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress. "Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp