‘After nearly destroying the planet, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This transpired after a US surveillance aircraft found that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly 14 days filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel dimension to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was the American side planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can people detest each other to the point they confront each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or else can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always wonderful or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp