‘After almost annihilating our planet, the relatives have become allies’: a thrilling podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward ruin than at any other point in modern times. This occurred after an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The peril was palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting civilization into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and a professor of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest one another and confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be friends or can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

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

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp