‘After nearly destroying our planet, our families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This happened when a US reconnaissance plane found that Soviet atomic missile bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days filled with impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series of global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, casting mankind into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians considering? What was the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals detest each other and go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be friends or can become total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn