‘After nearly destroying our world, our families are friends’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered closer toward ruin more so than ever during modern times. This happened after an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril was obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel element to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures that, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

A Different Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware 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 or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp