Following almost annihilating the planet, our families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, humanity veered nearer to annihilation than at any other point during modern times. This occurred after an American surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile bases were under construction on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade around the island. The next phase constituted almost two weeks filled with extreme tension.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat was obvious. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting mankind into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new element into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the men who, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What was the United States considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate one another and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular the fact that people can be allies or can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this repeatedly in instances where nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide could watch almost in real time while it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation came closer than anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them demanded action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly wonderful and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided a global war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a sign of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Kennedy. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, suggesting the world is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to grasp