‘After nearly annihilating our world, the relatives are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the world came nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon sites were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do nations detest each other and confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it moved closer to disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend