Following almost destroying the planet, our relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.
During the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with extreme stress.
The Unthinkable Threat
The danger was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind into total destruction.
This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders who, over 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.
"What were the Russians considering? What was Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.
In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest one another and go against each other?"
"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."
A Brink Towards Catastrophe
What is remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch nearly in real time while it edged towards disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.
"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."
The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.
A Different Perspective
Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative narrative of events.
"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."
Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."
A Unlikely Partnership
This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.
"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."
"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."
Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils
Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend
