‘After nearly destroying our planet, the relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet veered closer to ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented dimension into the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians planning? What was the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "How can people detest one another and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become total adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable about this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp