‘After almost annihilating the planet, the relatives are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This happened after an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, casting civilization toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was the United States considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate one another to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans can be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept towards armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains 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. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend