Following nearly destroying the planet, the families are friends’: the gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet came closer toward destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight filled with extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The peril was obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the United States thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn