‘After nearly destroying the planet, the families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity edged closer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This occurred when an American reconnaissance plane found that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight filled with extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained clear. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging civilization into total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another and confront each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch almost as it happened as it crept towards disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn