‘After nearly annihilating the planet, our families are friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to destruction more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since 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, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp