‘After almost destroying our planet, the relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet came nearer to ruin than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, casting mankind into total oblivion.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the world in their hands.

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

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals hate each other and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this over and over when countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame since we got along really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp