‘After nearly annihilating our planet, the relatives are allies’: the gripping podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear missile sites were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks of extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, casting mankind into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would have obliterated our naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But 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 constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn