Following almost destroying our world, the relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, humanity came closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon installations were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people can be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend