Following almost annihilating our planet, the families are allies’: a gripping podcast featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the world edged nearer to ruin more so than ever in modern times. This occurred when an American surveillance plane identified the fact that Russian atomic weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the United States. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed was almost 14 days filled with extreme anxiety.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting civilization into total ruination.

The October crisis has been examined repeatedly, in volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a novel element to this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders who, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians considering? What were the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

The Precipice of Disaster

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, individuals globally could watch nearly as it happened while it moved towards disaster. However, the threat of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk our largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba while Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after these events, and Nina learned about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a crisis, whereas in the Soviet Union we were told that things are always fine and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not held by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying the United States."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably balanced , well produced so much so that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from historians. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR 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 first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we once again find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp