Following almost destroying the world, the families are friends’: a gripping podcast from John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer toward ruin than at any other point in recent history. This happened when an American surveillance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being built in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period was nearly a fortnight filled with impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade of worldwide atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting humanity into total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest each other and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly when countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch almost in real time as it moved closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads while engaging in diplomacy when everyone around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 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."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following nearly six decades since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend