Following almost annihilating the world, our families have become allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet edged nearer toward ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This transpired when an American reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet atomic weapon installations were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine around the island. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained clear. If Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a chain reaction involving worldwide nuclear attacks and counterstrikes could have followed, plunging civilization into total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in books, movies, and TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a completely new element to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the figures that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the planet in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the American side planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do nations detest each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It struck me how remarkable it is that humans can be friends or can become complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as attorney. "We see this over and over when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, people worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the danger of destruction came closer than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements around them were advocating action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, matched by a feeling of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the Soviet school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and didn’t start a global war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that view was not held by everybody. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to contributions from renowned scholars. But, truly, the most momentous thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was unthinkable that descendants of the leaders of America and USSR would appear together publicly. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"We aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following nearly 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to grasp