Following nearly destroying our world, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.
During October 1962, the planet came nearer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This happened after a US reconnaissance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed was almost two weeks of impossible tension.
The Unthinkable Threat
The danger remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging civilization toward total oblivion.
The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.
"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of global relations.
In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"
"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now a writer as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."
A Precipice of Catastrophe
What is remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.
"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."
The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.
The Different Perspective
Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.
"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful and sunny."
Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."
An Unprecedented Partnership
The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.
"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."
"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame since we got along really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."
Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers
Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend
