‘After almost destroying the world, our families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever in recent history. This happened when an American reconnaissance plane identified that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new dimension to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the United States thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch almost in real time as it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "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 things are constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend