‘After almost annihilating our planet, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin than at any other point during modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around the island. What followed was almost 14 days of unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting humanity toward all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend