‘After nearly destroying our planet, our families have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its attempt to question: "Why do people hate each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR 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, has to be a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to learn