Following almost annihilating our world, our relatives are friends’: the gripping podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft discovered that Russian atomic weapon bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. What followed constituted almost a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained obvious. Should Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, casting humanity toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined extensively, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "Why do people detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable about this event is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved towards disaster. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated the naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame because we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend