Following nearly annihilating the world, the families are allies’: the thrilling audio series from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.
In October 1962, humanity came nearer toward destruction than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired after a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade around the island. What followed was nearly a fortnight filled with impossible tension.
The Catastrophic Danger
The danger remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out destruction.
The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.
"What was the Russians planning? What were the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of international affairs.
In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other and oppose each other?"
"It struck me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."
The Brink Towards Catastrophe
What’s notable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch almost in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.
"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."
The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.
A Different Viewpoint
Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.
"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful and positive."
Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."
An Unlikely Collaboration
The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.
"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."
Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils
Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn