‘After nearly destroying the planet, the families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity veered closer to destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was almost two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging mankind into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders who, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were the American side thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Brink Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it moved towards disaster. However, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important 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 Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to learn