‘After almost destroying our planet, our families are friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, humanity came nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks of impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, films, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element to the story. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for two tense weeks, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest each other and oppose one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn