‘After almost annihilating the planet, our families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity came closer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight filled with extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What was Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can individuals hate each other and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What is notable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. However, the danger of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend