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

During the month of October 1962, the world edged closer to destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being assembled on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging humanity toward total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element to the story. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What was Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can nations detest one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that individuals can be friends or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world could watch nearly in real time as it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend