‘After almost annihilating our planet, our relatives have become friends’: the gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the figures that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations hate one another and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable about this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged closer to disaster. However, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp