Following nearly destroying the world, the relatives are friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.
In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer to annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible tension.
The Catastrophic Danger
The danger remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging civilization toward all-out ruination.
The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent BBC World Service podcast The Bomb has brought a novel dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.
"What were the Russians thinking? What was the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.
In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people detest each other and confront one another?"
"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."
A Precipice of Catastrophe
What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch nearly as it happened as it crept closer to armageddon. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.
"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."
The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.
A Divergent Perspective
Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened.
"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful and sunny."
Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."
An Unprecedented Collaboration
This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.
"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 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 before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."
Modern Parallels and Current Dangers
Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend