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

During October 1962, the planet edged closer to annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired when a US surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around the island. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against the other side, a series of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, casting mankind into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men that, for 13 days, held the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What were the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can nations detest each other and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author and lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost in real time while it edged closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend