Following almost destroying the world, the families have become friends’: a gripping podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained clear. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind into total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show is its attempt to question: "How can nations detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally could watch nearly as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp