‘After nearly annihilating the world, our families are friends’: the gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged closer to annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being built in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK directed a naval task force to enact a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight filled with impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes could have ensued, thrusting humanity toward total destruction.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, through books, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel perspective to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the United States considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals detest each other and go against one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that people have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people around the world were able to observe nearly in real time as it crept towards disaster. However, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, they succeeded in keep their heads while calmly negotiate when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the planet, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to grasp