‘After almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends’: the gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.
During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight of unbearable tension.
An Catastrophic Threat
The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting mankind toward total destruction.
The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.
"What were the Kremlin considering? What was Washington thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.
In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can people detest one another and oppose each other?"
"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."
The Precipice Towards Catastrophe
What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.
"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."
The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.
A Divergent Perspective
Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.
"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and positive."
Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."
A Unlikely Partnership
This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.
"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."
Modern Parallels with Current Perils
Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend