‘After almost destroying our world, our relatives are allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world edged closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened after an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic strikes and counterstrikes would have followed, casting mankind toward total oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Russians planning? What were Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people detest each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've destroyed our naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

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

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Current 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 stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp