Following nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives have become friends’: a gripping podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction more so than ever in modern times. This happened when an American surveillance plane identified that Russian nuclear weapon bases were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. The next phase was almost two weeks filled with impossible tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting mankind into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side considering? What was the American side considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals globally could watch almost as it happened while it edged closer to armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that perspective was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant thing is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp