‘After nearly destroying the planet, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer to destruction more so than ever in modern times. This happened after a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging civilization into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch almost in real time as it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp