Following almost destroying the world, the families have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever in modern times. This happened when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK directed a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of global nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to explore: "How can nations hate one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals can be friends or can become total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards armageddon. However, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've destroyed our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend