‘After nearly destroying our world, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.
During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward ruin than at any other point during modern times. This happened after a US reconnaissance plane found that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks filled with impossible tension.
An Catastrophic Threat
The peril was obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, casting civilization toward total ruination.
The October crisis has been documented extensively, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.
"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the American side planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.
In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals detest each other and oppose one another?"
"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans can be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."
A Precipice of Catastrophe
What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.
"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."
The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.
The Different Perspective
Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.
"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny."
Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."
A Unlikely Collaboration
This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.
"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."
Modern Echoes and Present Dangers
Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn