Following nearly annihilating our world, our families are friends’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the planet came closer to annihilation more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred after a US reconnaissance aircraft identified that Soviet atomic missile sites were under construction in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling the island. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was palpable. Should Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting civilization toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been covered endlessly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the leaders that, for 13 days, controlled the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the strength of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest one another to the point they confront each other?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "We see this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens around the world could watch almost as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of destruction came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was felt globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most momentous aspect is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend