‘After almost annihilating the world, the families are friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged closer toward annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American surveillance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed was nearly 14 days filled with extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind toward total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Russians planning? What was the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to question: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans can be allies or else can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not 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."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend