‘After almost annihilating our world, our families are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was clear. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, casting mankind into total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost in real time as it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend