‘After almost annihilating the planet, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to destruction more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when a US surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase was nearly 14 days filled with extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new element into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What was Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can individuals detest each other and confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people can be friends or can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What is remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend