Following almost destroying the world, our relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.
During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days of extreme stress.
The Catastrophic Threat
The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity into total oblivion.
The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.
"What were the Soviet side considering? What were the United States planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.
In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to question: "How can individuals detest one another and oppose one another?"
"It struck me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."
A Brink Towards Catastrophe
What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened while it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.
"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."
The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.
The Divergent Perspective
Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.
"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or sunny."
Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."
A Unprecedented Collaboration
The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.
"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."
Modern Parallels and Present Perils
Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp
