‘After almost destroying the planet, our relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world edged closer toward ruin than at any other point during modern times. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were the United States planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people hate one another and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend