‘After nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft found that Russian atomic missile bases were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have followed, thrusting mankind into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented endlessly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders who, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to question: "How can people detest one another and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people can be allies or can become complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of America and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend