Following almost destroying our world, the relatives are friends’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged closer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This happened when an American surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being built in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime quarantine around the island. The ensuing period constituted nearly a fortnight filled with impossible stress.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes could have ensued, plunging civilization into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been documented repeatedly, in books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel dimension to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the men who, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do people detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than what anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have obliterated our aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors around them was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's presenters came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it via the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to learn