‘After nearly destroying our planet, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world came nearer to ruin more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period was nearly 14 days filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, casting civilization into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective to the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to explore: "How can people detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people globally were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, which would've sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp