‘After nearly destroying our world, the relatives are friends’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being built on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have followed, plunging mankind toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest each other and go against one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author and attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend