Following almost annihilating the world, the families have become allies’: a gripping podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet veered closer toward destruction than at any other point in recent history. This happened after an American reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging humanity toward all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been covered extensively, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new element into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What were the United States thinking?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of international affairs.

For her, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and now an author and lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals worldwide were able to observe nearly in real time while it crept towards disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would've sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was a feeling of optimism.

A Different Perspective

Yet, for those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles 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," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame because we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp