‘After almost destroying the planet, the families are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The peril was clear. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series of worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging mankind into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men who, over 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people hate each other and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would've sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp