‘After almost destroying our planet, the relatives are friends’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being assembled in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, casting civilization into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that humans can be allies or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, people around the world could watch almost in real time while it crept closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've sunk the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn