Following nearly destroying the planet, the families have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer to destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred following the discovery that a US surveillance plane discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon installations were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost 14 days of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, movies, and TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have destroyed the naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew American similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. 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.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn