‘After nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world veered closer to ruin more so than ever during recent history. This occurred when an American reconnaissance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging mankind toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What were the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest each other and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it moved closer to armageddon. However, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be shared 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."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn