‘After nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity came closer to ruin more so than ever during recent history. This happened after a US surveillance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime blockade around the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting humanity into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

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

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp