Following nearly destroying our planet, the families are friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.
During October 1962, humanity came nearer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened after a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days of impossible tension.
An Catastrophic Threat
The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting mankind into all-out oblivion.
The October crisis has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective to the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.
"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.
In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other and oppose one another?"
"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be friends or else can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."
A Precipice of Disaster
What is remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.
"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."
The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.
The Different Viewpoint
Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.
"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."
Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."
An Unprecedented Collaboration
The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.
"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."
"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."
Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers
Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend