‘After almost destroying our planet, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This happened when a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, casting humanity toward total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another and go against each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp