Following nearly destroying the world, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened after an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging humanity into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective to the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate one another and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking about this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards catastrophe. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn