Following almost annihilating our planet, our relatives have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.
During October 1962, the world came nearer to destruction more so than ever during modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian nuclear missile sites were under construction in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days filled with extreme tension.
An Catastrophic Danger
The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes might have followed, casting mankind into total ruination.
The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.
"What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.
In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"
"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."
A Precipice Towards Catastrophe
What is remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost in real time as it edged towards disaster. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.
"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."
The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.
The Divergent Viewpoint
Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.
"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."
Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."
An Unlikely Partnership
This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.
"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."
"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."
Modern Echoes with Current Dangers
Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend
