‘After almost destroying the planet, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity came closer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane discovered that Soviet atomic missile installations were under construction in the island of 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 impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, casting civilization toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate each other and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that people can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when everyone around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR would 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 first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn