‘After nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This transpired when a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, casting civilization toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" asks Nina 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 individuals hate each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals can be allies or else can become total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp