Following nearly annihilating our world, our families are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian atomic missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving global atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that people can be allies or can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union to 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 sign of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn