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

During October 1962, the planet edged nearer to destruction than at any other point during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. The next phase was nearly two weeks of extreme stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The peril was clear. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging civilization into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, through books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the figures that, for two tense weeks, grasped the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was the American side considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest each other and go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people can be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as destroyed America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp