During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic missile bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible tension.
The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging civilization toward total oblivion.
This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.
"What was the Russians planning? What was the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.
For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate one another to the point they confront each other?"
"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."
What is notable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch almost in real time as it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.
"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."
The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.
Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.
"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."
Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."
The Bomb is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.
"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."
"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."
Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend
