Following nearly annihilating our planet, our families are allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This happened after an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade of global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging humanity toward all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb presents an unprecedented perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" asks Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "How can nations detest one another and confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular it is that people have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened while it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments was pushing for action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly wonderful or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , 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, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of progress.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Parallels with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn