Following nearly destroying the world, our relatives have become allies’: the gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward destruction than at any other point during modern times. This happened after an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly 14 days of extreme stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger was obvious. Should Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a series of worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes could have followed, casting civilization toward total oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, through books, movies, as well as television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, for two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side planning? What was the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how profound it is that individuals can be friends or else can become complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have destroyed the naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp