‘After nearly annihilating our planet, the relatives have become friends’: the gripping podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period was almost two weeks filled with impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, plunging humanity toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people detest each other and go against one another?"

"It struck me how profound it is that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost in real time as it edged closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using 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've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp