‘After nearly destroying our planet, our relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. 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.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn