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

During October 1962, humanity edged closer toward annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, casting mankind toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies 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 when nations have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend