‘After almost destroying our world, the families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer toward annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of extreme anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting mankind toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through books, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

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

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can nations detest each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly in real time while it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn