‘After nearly annihilating the planet, the relatives are allies’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted nearly two weeks of unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was Washington planning?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can nations hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that individuals can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch almost in real time as it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels and sunk our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend