Following nearly annihilating the world, the relatives have become allies’: the gripping audio series from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.
In the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer to destruction than at any other point in recent history. This occurred when a US surveillance aircraft found that Russian nuclear missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable tension.
An Unthinkable Danger
The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out destruction.
The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.
"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of global relations.
For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can people hate each other to the point they confront one another?"
"It was not lost on me how profound it is that individuals can be friends or else can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."
The Brink of Disaster
What’s striking about this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time as it moved towards disaster. However, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.
"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have obliterated our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."
The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.
A Divergent Perspective
Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative narrative of events.
"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and positive."
Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."
An Unlikely Collaboration
This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.
"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."
Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils
Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in 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