Following nearly annihilating our world, our relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft found that Soviet atomic missile sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The peril remained palpable. If Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were the American side considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

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

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or can become complete adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is remarkable about this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it edged closer to catastrophe. However, the risk of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone around them were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Nina being taught about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine or positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed , well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become friends, so I think 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 find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend