Following almost annihilating the planet, our relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet came closer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we connected immediately and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend