US President John F Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev almost destroyed the world in 1962 over nuclear missiles in Cuba, but managed to negotiate their way out of catastrophe through calm heads and a desire for peace.
The Cuban Missile Crisis is now being revisited by the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb, which brings together relatives of Kennedy and Khrushchev, Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva. Their conversation offers new insights into what drove these two leaders to action during that perilous period.
"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, who is Khrushchev's great-granddaughter. For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate each other and go against each other?"
Her co-host Max Kennedy adds that it highlights the extraordinary foolishness of war. "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," he says.
Their discussion reveals what really happened behind the scenes during those 13 tense days in October 1962, when the world teetered on the edge of nuclear war. Kennedy recounts how his father vividly remembers lying in bed as a 12-year-old boy worried that World War Three could break out at any moment.
The hosts also touch on how their families view the crisis differently. Khrushcheva's family in Russia was told that the event was a triumph, highlighting the skill and bravery of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, while Kennedy's father in America vividly remembers the fear and uncertainty.
What sets The Bomb apart from other accounts is its unique perspective: two people with direct connections to the leaders who navigated this perilous crisis. They discuss how their family members were not just policymakers but also individuals who had to live with the consequences of their decisions.
For Nina Khrushcheva, being a great-granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev brings an intimate understanding of his thoughts and motivations during that time. She notes how he was haunted by memories of World War II and took a personal risk in trying to avoid nuclear war.
Max Kennedy, the son of Robert F Kennedy, who served as US President, reflects on how different it would have been if leaders today were more willing to take the lead in seeking peace instead of resorting to conflict. "Leadership responsibility is something that we are missing," he nods, echoing his co-host's sentiment.
Despite these encouraging words, there is a sense of urgency in their voices about the lessons not learned since 1962. Both Max and Nina express deep concern over the current state of international relations, citing leaders like Trump and Putin who seem to prioritize showmanship over diplomacy.
Their conversation offers a hopeful message about the potential for world leaders to learn from history. "When you get close to war, you actually turn away from war," notes Khrushcheva. "War is something that should not happen under any circumstances."
In an era where global tensions are rising again, The Bomb's unique blend of personal anecdotes and historical context serves as a timely reminder of the power of leadership and diplomacy in preventing catastrophic conflict.
The Cuban Missile Crisis is now being revisited by the BBC World Service podcast The Bomb, which brings together relatives of Kennedy and Khrushchev, Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva. Their conversation offers new insights into what drove these two leaders to action during that perilous period.
"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, who is Khrushchev's great-granddaughter. For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate each other and go against each other?"
Her co-host Max Kennedy adds that it highlights the extraordinary foolishness of war. "It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," he says.
Their discussion reveals what really happened behind the scenes during those 13 tense days in October 1962, when the world teetered on the edge of nuclear war. Kennedy recounts how his father vividly remembers lying in bed as a 12-year-old boy worried that World War Three could break out at any moment.
The hosts also touch on how their families view the crisis differently. Khrushcheva's family in Russia was told that the event was a triumph, highlighting the skill and bravery of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, while Kennedy's father in America vividly remembers the fear and uncertainty.
What sets The Bomb apart from other accounts is its unique perspective: two people with direct connections to the leaders who navigated this perilous crisis. They discuss how their family members were not just policymakers but also individuals who had to live with the consequences of their decisions.
For Nina Khrushcheva, being a great-granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev brings an intimate understanding of his thoughts and motivations during that time. She notes how he was haunted by memories of World War II and took a personal risk in trying to avoid nuclear war.
Max Kennedy, the son of Robert F Kennedy, who served as US President, reflects on how different it would have been if leaders today were more willing to take the lead in seeking peace instead of resorting to conflict. "Leadership responsibility is something that we are missing," he nods, echoing his co-host's sentiment.
Despite these encouraging words, there is a sense of urgency in their voices about the lessons not learned since 1962. Both Max and Nina express deep concern over the current state of international relations, citing leaders like Trump and Putin who seem to prioritize showmanship over diplomacy.
Their conversation offers a hopeful message about the potential for world leaders to learn from history. "When you get close to war, you actually turn away from war," notes Khrushcheva. "War is something that should not happen under any circumstances."
In an era where global tensions are rising again, The Bomb's unique blend of personal anecdotes and historical context serves as a timely reminder of the power of leadership and diplomacy in preventing catastrophic conflict.
. It's crazy to think that two leaders on opposite sides of the world could be having such intimate conversations about their fathers' roles in history. I wish our current leaders would take a page out of Max and Nina's books and have more heart-to-hearts about diplomacy instead of tweeting about nuclear war 
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. We need more stories like The Bomb to help us understand what went down during those tense 13 days in October 1962 
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. As they said, "When you get close to war, you actually turn away from war" 
. It's so true!
. I mean, can you even imagine what would've happened if those leaders had taken a different approach? It's like, they were literally sleeping with the fishes or something 
. But for real, it's amazing that they managed to talk their way out of it and find common ground.
. Like, Max Kennedy's dad was totally worried about the potential war, while Nina Khrushcheva's family in Russia was like, "Hey, Nikita's a hero!" 
. It just goes to show how personal politics can be, even for people who are directly related to the leaders.
. I think it's super important for us to remember what happened in 62 and try to do better in the future 
. We need more leaders who are willing to put aside their differences and work towards peace, you know? 
. Like, can you believe it? These two leaders were literally inches away from nuclear war over Cuba, but they found common ground. What's crazy is that their families have different stories about what happened, so there's definitely some gaps in history 
. I'm not saying the US or USSR didn't have reasons to be paranoid back then, but at least Kennedy and Khrushchev were trying to talk it out instead of just throwing bombs 
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. And it's good that they're keeping it real about how things could've been different if leaders today were more focused on diplomacy instead of showmanship 
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It's a good reminder that history isn't just about what happened, but also about how we can do better in the future 
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like, what if they'd taken a step back and really considered the consequences of their actions? 
it's crazy how much history has repeated itself since then, with world leaders still prioritizing power over peace. 
so maybe The Bomb is just trying to remind us that even in the darkest moments, there's always a chance for growth and understanding? 
- like can you even imagine having leaders with such a direct connection to the crisis? Max Kennedy's thoughts on how we've lost that sense of responsibility in leadership is so relatable 
. It's crazy to think we're still struggling with the same issues 60+ years later. The conversation between Nina and Max was actually pretty emotional, especially when they talked about their families' perspectives on the crisis 
. Max Kennedy is totally right, it's all about leadership responsibility! You know what they say, "those who can't do, teach" - but in politics, it's more like "those who can't lead, tweet" 
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. It's like we're getting a glimpse into what really went down behind those tense 13 days in October 1962 
. And what's even more striking is that they're not shying away from criticizing the current state of international relations 
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. The Bomb podcast might be a tiny glimmer of hope that we can get back on the right track, and I'm all for it 
!
. I mean, sure, there's Trump and Putin around, and it feels like they're all about showmanship over substance... ugh, what's wrong with the world? 
). It's got that unique perspective with two people having direct connections to the leaders, which I think makes it way more interesting than other accounts.
I mean, my fave part is when Max Kennedy says we're missing that leadership responsibility today 
And can you even imagine being a great-granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev? That's some major history cred right there! 
I'm def adding this podcast to my daily listen list, it's giving me all the feels 
.
. And what Max says about leadership responsibility being missing from today's politics? So true 
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. Anyway, The Bomb podcast is definitely giving me some new things to think about 
another nuclear close call 
guess what? same stuff going around today with global tensions rising again 
I think it's so cool how this podcast is bringing back some of that old-school diplomacy vibes 
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. We really do need more people like JFK and Khrushchev who were willing to take risks for peace 
It's like we're getting to know the real people behind those historic events, you feel me? 
I mean, can you imagine having a great-grandma who was like, literally next to Nikita Khrushchev? 
That's some serious history, fam! #TheBombPodcast #HistoryMeetsHumanity
I mean, come on, people... remember JFK and Khrushchev's calm heads in 1962? Can't we learn from their example? 
Nina Khrushcheva's great-grandfather might've been a skilled leader, but what about the rest of us who just need to work together? 
. It's crazy to think that two leaders with such strong wills were able to find common ground and talk their way out of it. It gives me hope for the future, you know? We need more people like Max and Nina who are willing to look beyond the politics and just talk about what really matters 
. And it's so true, leadership responsibility is something that's totally lacking in some places right now 
. I mean, can't we all just try to be a little more peaceful?