Following nearly destroying the planet, our families have become friends’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation than at any other point in the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance plane discovered that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around the island. The ensuing period was nearly two weeks of impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril was obvious. If Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization toward all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, through books, films, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What was Washington considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "How can people detest one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that people can be friends or can become complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when everyone around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"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 about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "They told me what a great occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that interpretation would not be held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp