Following almost destroying our world, the families have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world edged closer to annihilation more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear weapon sites were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, U.S. President JFK ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The danger remained palpable. If President Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes and counterstrikes would have ensued, thrusting humanity into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented element to the story. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, over 13 days, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What were Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable about this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people worldwide could watch nearly in real time as it crept closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of events.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, because it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that view would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and we’re friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the world, our lineages have become allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend