‘After nearly annihilating our planet, the families have become allies’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged closer to destruction than at any other point in recent history. This happened when a US surveillance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being assembled on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was almost a fortnight of unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a series of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting civilization into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the leaders that, over 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people hate each other and oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink of Disaster

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept closer to armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, which would have sunk the naval vessels and destroyed our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant 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 thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view would not be held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason this series seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to comprehend