Following almost annihilating the planet, the relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet veered nearer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This happened after a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being built in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a naval quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was almost two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The danger remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective into this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What were the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they oppose one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be allies or can become total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? One reason the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to comprehend