‘After nearly destroying the planet, the families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that a US surveillance plane identified that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with impossible tension.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a chain reaction of global atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, plunging civilization toward total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined repeatedly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

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

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens globally could watch almost as it happened while it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have sunk the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary naval force. And, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

A Different Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which presented a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Later on, however, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend