Following nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer to ruin than at any other point in modern times. This transpired after an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being built in Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The ensuing period was almost two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series of global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes would have ensued, plunging humanity into total ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined extensively, through books, films, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a completely new perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the leaders who, over 13 days, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What were the American side considering?" questions Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they oppose one another?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that humans have the potential to be friends or can become total adversaries," states Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."

The Brink Towards Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event is that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it crept towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've obliterated the naval vessels and sunk America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was a feeling of hope.

A Different Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet education system, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, though, that view was not shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so even-handed , well produced that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. But, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union 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 symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become friends, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp