‘After almost destroying our world, the families are allies’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase was nearly two weeks of unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a cascade of global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, casting mankind toward total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What was the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe almost in real time as it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn