‘After almost destroying the planet, our families have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity veered nearer toward annihilation than at any other point during the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance plane identified that Russian atomic missile bases were under construction in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed was nearly two weeks of extreme tension.

The Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained clear. Should President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a chain reaction involving global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been covered repeatedly, through books, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new element into the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin thinking? What was the United States thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people hate one another and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly in real time as it moved towards catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

A Different Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters were born shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the Soviet education system, which portrayed an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that view would not be held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend