‘After nearly destroying our world, the families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity veered closer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting humanity into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel dimension into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was Washington thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do people detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people can be friends or else can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally were able to observe almost as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend