‘After almost destroying the planet, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.
During the month of October 1962, the world veered closer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred when a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.
An Catastrophic Danger
The peril remained clear. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting civilization toward total destruction.
This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension into the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.
"What were the Russians thinking? What were Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations.
In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate each other to the point they go against each other?"
"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."
The Brink of Disaster
What is notable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.
"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."
The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.
The Divergent Perspective
Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different picture of events.
"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."
Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."
A Unprecedented Partnership
This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.
"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."
Modern Echoes and Present Dangers
Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp