🔗 Share this article Following almost annihilating our planet, our families are allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. During the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable tension. The Unthinkable Danger The danger was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting civilization toward total destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Soviet side considering? What were the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs. In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another and confront each other?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally could watch nearly as it happened as it crept towards disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism. A Different Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened. "You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope. "We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn
During the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable tension. The Unthinkable Danger The danger was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting civilization toward total destruction. This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Soviet side considering? What were the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs. In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another and confront each other?" "It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare." A Precipice Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally could watch nearly as it happened as it crept towards disaster. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised. "Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism. A Different Perspective Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened. "You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive." Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States." A Unlikely Collaboration The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope. "We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children." "But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn