‘After almost destroying the world, the relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world came nearer toward ruin more so than ever during recent history. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance plane identified that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around the island. What followed constituted almost two weeks of impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel dimension into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people can be friends or else can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally could watch almost in real time while it crept towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend