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The Bomb

Nuclear war is terrifyingly close. Can the superpowers stop a global catastrophe?

World Service,9 episodes

Episodes

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Kennedy and Khrushchev
Trailer
Nuclear war is terrifyingly close. Can the superpowers stop a global catastrophe?
06 Nov 2025,4 mins
Kennedy and Khrushchev
1. Opening moves
As the USA and Soviet Union race for supremacy, Premier Khrushchev sizes up JFK
01 Dec 2025,37 mins
Kennedy and Khrushchev
2. King of bombs
Vienna talks break down, the Berlin wall rises and a huge bomb is tested over the Arctic
01 Dec 2025,38 mins
Kennedy and Khrushchev
3. Gamble
The Soviets secretly plan to move an arsenal of nuclear weapons to Cuba
08 Dec 2025,36 mins
Kennedy and Khrushchev
4. Almost caught
Soviet ships carry nuclear missiles to Cuba. But the US can’t prove it
15 Dec 2025,35 mins
Kennedy and Khrushchev
5. The crisis: Day one
Spy plane pictures reveal the missile build up to the Americans. How will they respond?
22 Dec 2025,37 mins
Kennedy and Khrushchev
6. Kennedy’s move
Pressure builds on President Kennedy to order a military strike on Cuba
29 Dec 2025,37 mins
Kennedy and Khrushchev
7. Eyeball to eyeball
President Kennedy addresses the nation and imposes a blockade on ships bound for Cuba
05 Jan 2026,37 mins
Kennedy and Khrushchev
8. The logic of war
Troops in Cuba fear an attack is imminent – Castro urges Khrushchev to strike first
12 Jan 2026,37 mins