During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer toward destruction than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of extreme stress.
The danger remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity into all-out oblivion.
The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.
"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.
In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other to the point they go against each other?"
"It struck me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."
What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch almost in real time while it crept closer to catastrophe. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody realised.
"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."
The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.
Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events.
"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and positive."
Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."
The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.
"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."
"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."
Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn
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