‘After almost annihilating the planet, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.
During the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks filled with impossible tension.
An Unthinkable Threat
The danger was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction.
The October crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.
"What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.
In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate each other and go against one another?"
"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."
A Brink Towards Catastrophe
What is remarkable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.
"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."
The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.
A Different Perspective
Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.
"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine or sunny."
Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."
A Unlikely Partnership
This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.
"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."
"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."
Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils
Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn
