‘After almost destroying the planet, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer to ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted almost 14 days of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people hate each other and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch almost as it happened as it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp