Following nearly destroying our planet, the relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane identified that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight filled with impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel perspective into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the American side thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "How can people hate each other and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally could watch almost as it happened as it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm and calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which presented a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp