Following nearly destroying the planet, our relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the United States. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting civilization toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel element into the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians planning? What were the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary naval force. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend