‘After nearly annihilating the world, the families have become friends’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer to destruction more so than ever in recent history. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting mankind into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other and go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR to 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 sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn