Following nearly annihilating our world, our relatives have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world came nearer to ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was obvious. If Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting mankind into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do people hate each other and go against each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened as it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the first," 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," adds Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend