‘After almost annihilating our planet, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, casting humanity into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel perspective to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can nations hate each other and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept towards disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn