Following nearly destroying our planet, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet veered closer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was nearly a fortnight filled with extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel perspective into the story. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Russians planning? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that humans can be friends or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals worldwide were able to observe almost in real time while it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp