Following nearly annihilating the world, our relatives have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer toward ruin more so than ever in modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance plane found the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade encircling Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes might have ensued, plunging mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel perspective to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author and attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event was that, since it unfolded so publicly, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state 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 hope.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected immediately and now we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly six decades of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn