‘After almost annihilating the world, the relatives are allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon bases were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What was the United States considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that individuals can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend