Following almost destroying the planet, the families are allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity came closer to annihilation more so than ever in modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft found the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch nearly in real time while it moved towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend