‘After almost destroying our world, the relatives are friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity edged closer toward destruction than at any other point in modern times. This transpired when a US surveillance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a naval blockade around the island. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril was obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel dimension to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

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

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors 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've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. 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 optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend