Following almost annihilating our planet, the relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer to ruin more so than ever in recent history. This transpired when an American reconnaissance aircraft identified that Russian nuclear missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight of unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting civilization into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel dimension into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the American side thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s notable about this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, people globally could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend