Following almost destroying the world, our families are friends’: a thrilling podcast from John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward destruction than at any other point during recent history. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance plane found the fact that Russian atomic missile installations were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight of impossible anxiety.

An Unthinkable Danger

The threat remained palpable. Should Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, thrusting mankind into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented extensively, through volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series The Bomb presents a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the figures that, for 13 days, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin considering? What was Washington planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic specializing in global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals hate one another and go against one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be total enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, because it transpired so publicly, people worldwide were able to observe almost in real time as it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike and an invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when everyone around them demanded military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was always wonderful or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it 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 positive outcome," she continues. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly 60 years since almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn