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

During October 1962, the planet edged closer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance plane found the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed was almost a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging humanity into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in books, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a novel perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the United States considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest one another and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've obliterated our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about it via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn