Following nearly destroying our world, the families are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate one another and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn