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

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. What followed was nearly a fortnight filled with extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade involving global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting humanity toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men that, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can individuals detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

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