‘After nearly destroying our world, our relatives are allies’: the gripping audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.
During the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed was nearly 14 days of unbearable anxiety.
The Catastrophic Threat
The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction.
The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.
"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.
In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can nations detest each other and confront each other?"
"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."
The Brink Towards Disaster
What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time as it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.
"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."
The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.
A Different Perspective
Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.
"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful and positive."
Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."
A Unprecedented Partnership
This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.
"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."
"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."
Modern Echoes with Current Dangers
Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn