‘After almost annihilating our world, our families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet edged closer to destruction more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can people hate each other to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged closer to catastrophe. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn