‘After nearly annihilating our world, our families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This transpired when an American surveillance plane identified that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight filled with impossible stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat was obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade of global nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging humanity into total ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented extensively, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What were the United States considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can people detest one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is striking about this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"You said your father recalls 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, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would 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 sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn