During the month of October 1962, the world edged closer to ruin more so than ever during recent history. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme stress.
The peril remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization toward all-out destruction.
This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.
"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of international affairs.
For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals detest one another and confront one another?"
"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."
What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it moved towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.
"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."
The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.
Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.
"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."
Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."
The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.
"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."
Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend
A travel enthusiast and writer based in London, sharing cultural insights and personal adventures from across the UK and beyond.
