Following nearly destroying our planet, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.
During October 1962, humanity veered nearer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired after an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible tension.
The Unthinkable Threat
The threat remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting humanity toward total destruction.
The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, in books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.
"What was the Soviet side considering? What were the United States considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.
For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"
"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans can be allies or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."
A Brink Towards Catastrophe
What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.
"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have destroyed the naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."
The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.
The Divergent Perspective
Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of events.
"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."
Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive 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 the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."
An Unprecedented Collaboration
The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.
"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative 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 because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."
Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils
Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend
