‘After nearly destroying our world, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting humanity toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new dimension to the story. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate one another and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn