Following almost destroying the world, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane found that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction 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 enact a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was almost two weeks of unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, plunging humanity toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new perspective to the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "How can people detest one another to the point they go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most momentous aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp