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

During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance plane found the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon bases were under construction on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained obvious. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting mankind into all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in books, films, and television programmes. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do people hate one another and oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and currently an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch almost as it happened as it edged closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our naval vessels and sunk our primary naval force. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed what a great moment it was, because it represented a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"We are not the first," notes Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp