Following nearly annihilating the planet, our relatives are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet veered nearer to ruin than at any other point during modern times. This happened after an American surveillance plane discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. What followed was almost 14 days of unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging civilization toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, in books, movies, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor of global relations.

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

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that individuals can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," remarks Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally could watch nearly as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of progress.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame because we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn