🔗 Share this article Following almost destroying our planet, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants. During October 1962, humanity veered closer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight of impossible stress. An Unthinkable Threat The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, casting mankind into all-out ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands. "What were the Russians considering? What was Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of global relations. For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate each other to the point they oppose each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight." A Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time while it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of events. "You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or positive." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 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. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp
During October 1962, humanity veered closer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight of impossible stress. An Unthinkable Threat The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, casting mankind into all-out ruination. The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands. "What were the Russians considering? What was Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of global relations. For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate each other to the point they oppose each other?" "I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight." A Brink Towards Catastrophe What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time while it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time. "The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth." The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope. A Different Viewpoint Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of events. "You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or positive." Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America." An Unprecedented Collaboration This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress. "Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 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. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit." Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp