🔗 Share this article ‘After nearly annihilating the planet, the families have become allies’: the gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives. In October 1962, humanity veered closer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension. An Unthinkable Danger The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind into all-out destruction. The October crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose one another?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Disaster What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch almost in real time as it edged towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America." A Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn
In October 1962, humanity veered closer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension. An Unthinkable Danger The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind into all-out destruction. The October crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands. "What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs. For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose one another?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare." The Brink Towards Disaster What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch almost in real time as it edged towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet." The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened. "As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine or sunny." Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America." A Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope. "We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family." "But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn