‘After almost destroying our world, our families have become allies’: a gripping audio series featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged closer to destruction more so than ever in recent history. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft found that Soviet nuclear missile sites were under construction in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to establish a maritime blockade encircling the island. What followed was nearly a fortnight of impossible stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained obvious. Should President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction of worldwide atomic attacks followed by counterstrikes could have followed, plunging mankind toward all-out destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered endlessly, in books, films, and TV documentaries. 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 and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures who, over 13 days, held the destiny of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do nations hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that humans can be friends or can become complete adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What is notable about the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe nearly in real time while it moved towards catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," says Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate when many advisors around them demanded action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed American similar weapons from Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Nina learned about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different version of events.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public were largely unaware a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union we were told that everything was constantly wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of optimism.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, following almost six decades of nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen appear not to be able to learn