Following nearly destroying the world, the relatives are allies’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet edged closer toward destruction than at any other point during recent history. This transpired after a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series of global atomic strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, thrusting mankind toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate one another to the point they go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author and attorney. "We see 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 is striking regarding this event is that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged closer to disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would've destroyed the aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp