Following nearly annihilating our world, the families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This transpired after a US surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic weapon installations were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade around the island. What followed was almost a fortnight of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people detest each other to the point they confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans can be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp