‘After almost destroying the planet, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed constituted almost 14 days filled with impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What were the American side planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can nations hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or else can become total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly in real time while it edged towards disaster. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

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

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp