‘After almost annihilating our world, our families are friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged nearer to ruin than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired when an American reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight filled with impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

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

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, people globally could watch almost in real time as it moved towards armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've sunk our naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to learn