In the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear missile installations were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.
The peril was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting civilization into all-out ruination.
This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.
"What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of international affairs.
In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can people hate each other to the point they go against one another?"
"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."
What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.
"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."
The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.
Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.
"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine and positive."
Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."
The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.
"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."
"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."
Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend
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