Following almost destroying the world, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer to destruction than at any other point during recent history. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted nearly two weeks of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging humanity into all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp