‘After nearly annihilating our world, our relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat was palpable. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series of global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element to the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend