Following nearly annihilating our world, the families have become friends’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever in recent history. This transpired after an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine around Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks of unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained clear. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a series of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting humanity into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "How can people hate each other and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch nearly as it happened while it crept towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp