Following nearly destroying our world, the relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear missile sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was almost two weeks filled with unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were Washington thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show is its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals hate each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept towards disaster. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk our naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America 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 because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp