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The boy, the wish and the nuclear weapons

When American teenager, Jeff Henigson, was told he had two years left to live he decided to travel to the Soviet Union to try and broker a nuclear peace deal.

In 1986 American teenager, Jeff Henigson, was diagnosed with brain cancer and given two years to live. He had just one wish: to travel to the Soviet Union, meet the country’s leader Mikhail Gorbachev and attempt to broker a nuclear peace deal. This programme was first broadcast on 7th of September 2019.

Jeff has written a book about his experience called WarHead.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder

Picture: Teenager Jeff Henigson in bed after undergoing brain surgery
Credit: Jeff Henigson

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27 minutes

Last on

Mon 17 Aug 202000:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 15 Aug 202021:32GMT
  • Sun 16 Aug 202008:32GMT
  • Sun 16 Aug 202009:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Aug 202000:32GMT

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Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected