Following nearly destroying our planet, the families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. What followed was nearly two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging humanity into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were the United States planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest each other and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be friends or can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it crept towards armageddon. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn